Week 12 is in the books and the new poll standings are out. There's a lot at stake this week as teams play for division and conference titles. There are many, many games between the Top 25 teams so expect quite a bit of movement in the polls next Sunday.
I’ll give the AP Writers’/Coaches’/BCS Standings. If a team is not in the Top 25 of one or more of the polls I’ll enter an “NR” in that slot.
1/1/1 LSU (10-1, 6-1) The Tigers remain everyone’s ##1 team for another week. This Friday, they play at home against Arkansas (7-4, 3-4) to close out the regular season and then must face either Georgia or Tennessee in the SEC title game.
2/2/2 Kansas (11-0, 7-0) The undefeated Jayhawks have the unenviable position of the dreaded #2 slot. On Saturday they host #3/4/4 Missouri (10-1, 6-1)
3/4/4 Missouri (10-1, 6-1) The Tigers play at #2/2/2 Kansas on Saturday for the privilege of facing Oklahoma for the Big 12 Championship.
4/3/3 West Virginia The Mountaineers are in the catbird seat. This week they play Connecticut for the BIG EAST title. Win that game and while they will still have to play Pittsburgh, they stand a good chance of being #2 when the smoke clears in two weeks time and that will earn them a shot at the National Title.
5/5/5 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1) The Buckeyes’ regular season is over. They are the champs of the Big Ten. They are going to the Rose Bowl…maybe. In this wacky world of college football nothing is certain. They could still end up #2 with a shot at the National Title if some crazy (or maybe not so crazy) things happen above them.
6/7/7 Georgia (9-2, 6-2) The Bulldogs are currently leading the SEC East but they play out of conference this week at Georgia Tech (7-4, 4-4) which gives Tennessee (8-3, 5-2) a chance to slip past them into the top spot. All for the chance to play LSU for the SEC title.
7/6/6 Arizona State (9-1, 6-1) The Sun Devils currently sit atop the PAC 10 standings but host Southern California (8-2, 5-2) this Thanksgiving and Arizona a week later. They need to win out to ensure a title.
8/8/8 Virginia Tech (9-2, 6-1) The Hokies travel to Virginia (8-2, 6-1) whom they must beat to garner the ACC Coastal Division and a chance to face Boston College for the ACC crown.
9/10/9 Oregon (8-2, 5-2) Number 2 just last week, the Ducks must travel to UCLA (5-5, 4-3) this Saturday and host Oregon State (7-4, 5-3) the week after. They must win both to have a shot at the PAC Ten title. And without Dennis Dixon (done for the year with a torn ACL) that might be impossible.
10/9/10 Oklahoma (9-2, 5-2) hosts Oklahoma State (6-5, 4-3) whom it must defeat to stay at the top of the Big 12 South. If they stay there, it’s on to play either Kansas or Missouri for the Big 12 title.
11/12/11 Southern California (8-2, 5-2) travels to Arizona State (9-1, 6-1) on Thanksgiving night. Should they win, they might just end up as the PAC 10 Champs again.
12/14/12 Florida (8-3, 5-3) The Gators are playing out of conference as they host Florida State. I wonder when they will let South Florida play for the state’s bragging rights?
13/11/13 Texas (9-2, 5-2) The Longhorns play at Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4) for the champeenship of Texas and maybe, a chance at a Big 12 South crown should Oklahoma stumble.
14/13/15 Hawaii (10-0, 7-0) The Warriors host the Boise State broncos (10-1, 7-0) in a game for the WAC title. It’s their first real test of the season. Guess we’ll get to see just how healthy Colt Brennan is this week.
15/16/14 Boston College (9-2, 5-2) The Eagles are already the ACC Atlantic champs. A win at home over Miami (Fla.) (5-6, 2-5) will just give the faithful something else to celebrate.
16/15/16 Virginia (9-2, 6-1) host Virginia Tech (9-2, 6-1) to see who is going to be the ACC Coastal champs and who will play Boston College for the ACC crown.
17/17/19 Boise State (10-1. 7-0) The broncos travel to Hawaii (10-0, 7-0) to see who is the WAC champs.
18/18/17 Illinois (9-3, 6-2) The Fighting Illini have finished their regular season and are waiting to see which bowl game they will be playing.
19/19/18 Tennessee (8-3, 5-2) The Volunteers play at Kentucky (7-4, 3-4). If they win, they will be the SEC East champs and get to play LSU for the SEC title. Lose and Georgia is in.
20/21/20 Connecticut (9-2, 5-1) The Huskies play at West Virginia (9-1, 4-1) for the BIG EAST title. (Yeah, WVU also has to play Pittsburgh, but should the Huskies win it won’t matter.)
21/22/22 Clemson (8-3, 5-3) The Tigers play out of conference at South Carolina (6-5, 3-5) for bragging rights in SC.
22/20/21 Wisconsin (9-3, 5-3) The Badgers season is over. They finished in fourth place in the Big Ten and should be headed to a bowl game.
23/23/25 Brigham Young (8-2, 6-0) The Cougars host Utah (8-3, 5-2). Win and are the champs of the mountain West Conference despite having to play at San Diego State in a game postponed by forest fires.
24/NR/24 Cincinnati (8-2, 3-3) The Bearcats play at Syracuse (2-9, 1-5) this week as they try to improve their bowl position.
25/25/26 Auburn (7-4, 4-3) The Tigers face off against Alabama (6-5, 4-3) in a major rivalry game.
NR/NR/23 South Florida (8-3, 3-3) The Bulls play at Pittsburgh (4-6, 2-3) to close out their regular season. It’s a chance to improve their bowl bid.
Monday, November 19, 2007
"All In A Good Cause"
More harm has been done in the name of a “Good Cause” than perhaps out and out aggression.
Orson Scott Card wrote an Op-Ed piece recently examining the IPCC report that recently shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore. In it he exposes the fraudulent and secretive science that forms the foundation of the committee’s report and recommendations. It is worth reading: All in a Good Cause by Orson Scott Card.
Precisely why some investigative reporter hasn’t done the leg work to disassemble this hoax is a wonder.
Orson Scott Card wrote an Op-Ed piece recently examining the IPCC report that recently shared the Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore. In it he exposes the fraudulent and secretive science that forms the foundation of the committee’s report and recommendations. It is worth reading: All in a Good Cause by Orson Scott Card.
Precisely why some investigative reporter hasn’t done the leg work to disassemble this hoax is a wonder.
To Blog or Not to Blog
That is the question!
Tell me you can listen to this and not have 1) our toes a-tapping and 2) the tune running through your head when he's done.
(h/t to Miss Cellania)
Tell me you can listen to this and not have 1) our toes a-tapping and 2) the tune running through your head when he's done.
(h/t to Miss Cellania)
Visitors
With this morning’s snows came a small flock of Evening Grosbeaks. At first the half a dozen birds simply sat in the tops of the poplars in front of the Aerie but, as they watched me shovel the deck and the chickadees, nuthatches and titmice visited the feeders, they too decided to sample the sunflower seeds.
Male Evening Grosbeak.
Female Evening Grosbeak.
This is the first time in a long time that Terry and I have seen this species and a first for the Aerie. Just last week, members of the Tiadaghton Audubon Society were wondering where these lovely birds have been.
Male Evening Grosbeak.
Female Evening Grosbeak.
This is the first time in a long time that Terry and I have seen this species and a first for the Aerie. Just last week, members of the Tiadaghton Audubon Society were wondering where these lovely birds have been.
Snow report
Snowed most of the night and it's still coming down lightly right now. Total accumulations at the Aerie are in the 6-8 inch range though the TV reports depths of 8 inches in the neighboring town.
With the snow letting up (not ending!) you can see the ridge in the background that was "missing" yesterday.
Snow can pile up quite nicely on the broad deck rail in the absence of any wind.
I'll have to refill the feeders soon. And dump the thistle. It's probably stale by now which is why the finches aren't using it as much as they should.
The grill awaits better days as the blue sky attempts to break through the cloud cover.
Today's opening day of bear hunting season here in PA. Much of the hunting is done by driving through a patch of woods to get the more or less nocturnal bear on its feet and moving toward a group of hunters who are on stand hoping to ambush the bruin. With todays fresh snow, the hunters might be able to see the bear more easily and spot the tracks of any bear that might have left the hunting area; sneaking past both drivers and standers.
Me? I'm going to have to dig out the snow shovel and clear the deck.
With the snow letting up (not ending!) you can see the ridge in the background that was "missing" yesterday.
Snow can pile up quite nicely on the broad deck rail in the absence of any wind.
I'll have to refill the feeders soon. And dump the thistle. It's probably stale by now which is why the finches aren't using it as much as they should.
The grill awaits better days as the blue sky attempts to break through the cloud cover.
Today's opening day of bear hunting season here in PA. Much of the hunting is done by driving through a patch of woods to get the more or less nocturnal bear on its feet and moving toward a group of hunters who are on stand hoping to ambush the bruin. With todays fresh snow, the hunters might be able to see the bear more easily and spot the tracks of any bear that might have left the hunting area; sneaking past both drivers and standers.
Me? I'm going to have to dig out the snow shovel and clear the deck.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Still snowing
While the amount of snow falling decreased during the mid-day hours, it never really stopped. At sundown we had about 3 inches on the rail of the deck. Warnings trailed across the bottom of the TV screen saying accumulations in the southern part of the county will amount to 4 to 8 inches while we will have 4 or 5 before morning. It is supposed to stop by 5 AM.
And the temperature at the Aerie never got above 32 degrees today.
[UPDATE: Terry watched this evening's news where they forecast 5-7 inches for the mountain tops. We aren't on the "mountain top" as that is at 2400 feet and we are only at 2100 feet. Still, we're close enough to that level.]
And the temperature at the Aerie never got above 32 degrees today.
[UPDATE: Terry watched this evening's news where they forecast 5-7 inches for the mountain tops. We aren't on the "mountain top" as that is at 2400 feet and we are only at 2100 feet. Still, we're close enough to that level.]
Mark Steyn:
World should give thanks for America
If you’ve got a few minutes, go over and read from Mark Steyn’s weekend column.
He starts off with some humor but soon gets down to the brass tacks of his piece which seems to be that the reason so many around the world (and even within our own borders) look askance upon our fine country is that we’ve been around so long.
Add to the longevity factor some pride in who and what we are and the desire to be somebody—in a national sort of way and you really send some away scratching their heads.
Yeah. That’s got to hurt some European pride. Instead of swooping in to scoop up the booty, loot and pillage the natural resources of an inflicted and powerless country, the US armed forces are more likely to offer real aid like hospitals, medical care, water purification and the like. While the European nations have none of the manpower to do the same and so whip out the checkbook and write a check—usually for a tiny fraction of what the US is doing.
He starts off with some humor but soon gets down to the brass tacks of his piece which seems to be that the reason so many around the world (and even within our own borders) look askance upon our fine country is that we’ve been around so long.
But Americans aren't novelty junkies on the important things. The New World is one of the oldest settled constitutional democracies on Earth, to a degree the Old World can barely comprehend. Where it counts, Americans are traditionalists.
We know Eastern Europe was a totalitarian prison until the Nineties, but we forget that Mediterranean Europe (Greece, Spain, Portugal) has democratic roots going all the way back until, oh, the mid-Seventies; France and Germany's constitutions date back barely half a century, Italy's only to the 1940s, and Belgium's goes back about 20 minutes, and currently it's not clear whether even that latest rewrite remains operative. The U.S. Constitution is not only older than France's, Germany's, Italy's or Spain's constitution, it's older than all of them put together.
Americans think of Europe as Goethe and Mozart and 12th century castles and 6th century churches, but the Continent's governing mechanisms are no more ancient than the Partridge Family. Aside from the Anglophone democracies, most of the nation-states in the West have been conspicuous failures at sustaining peaceful political evolution from one generation to the next, which is why they're so susceptible to the siren song of Big Ideas – communism, fascism, European Union.
Add to the longevity factor some pride in who and what we are and the desire to be somebody—in a national sort of way and you really send some away scratching their heads.
So Americans should be thankful they have one of the last functioning nation-states. Europeans, because they've been so inept at exercising it, no longer believe in national sovereignty, whereas it would never occur to Americans not to. This profoundly different attitude to the nation-state underpins, in turn, Euro-American attitudes to transnational institutions such as the United Nations.
But on this Thanksgiving the rest of the world ought to give thanks to American national sovereignty, too. When something terrible and destructive happens – a tsunami hits Indonesia, an earthquake devastates Pakistan – the United States can project itself anywhere on the planet within hours and start saving lives, setting up hospitals and restoring the water supply.
Yeah. That’s got to hurt some European pride. Instead of swooping in to scoop up the booty, loot and pillage the natural resources of an inflicted and powerless country, the US armed forces are more likely to offer real aid like hospitals, medical care, water purification and the like. While the European nations have none of the manpower to do the same and so whip out the checkbook and write a check—usually for a tiny fraction of what the US is doing.
Rutgers Men’s BBall falls to Florida 88-63
Despite having four players score in double figures, the Scarlet Knights, led by JR Inman’s 17 point effort could not overcome the two time national champion Florida Gators who had five players in double figures.
The RU squad hung in there in the first 15 minutes of the game and the score was tied at 31 with 5:52 left in the opening half. That’s when the Gators went on a 17-2 run to close out the stanza and effectively put the game away.
Freshmen guards Mike Coburn and Corey Chandler as well as Junior guard Anthony Farmer each had 10 points for the Knights.
The Gator’s were led by Marreese Speights’ 18 points
In dropping this final game of the Blue Ribbon Challenge, Rutgers fell to 3-1. They will return to the friendly confines of the RAC to play Dartmouth on Tuesday night.
Florida improved its record to 4-0.
The full story and stats can be found here.
RU slips past Pittsburgh 20-16
plus a look at the BIG EAST bowl chances
Rutgers eked out a victory over Pittsburgh 20-16 in their final home game of the season yesterday. Mike Teel threw for a 56-yard touchdown to Kenny Britt before his troublesome sore thumb limited his playing time and Ray Rice ran for 112 yards and one TD while Jeremy Ito nailed two field goals for the other RU points. It was a near thing as the Panthers had the ball in the closing moments only to be called for offensive pass interference in the end zone on what could have been the winning score and they then were intercepted with mere seconds to go.
The Scarlet Knights improved to 7-4 overall and 3-3 in the BIG EAST while Pitt fell to 4-6 and 2-3 in conference play.
The full story and stats can be found here.
In other BIG EAST play West Virginia downed Cincinnati 28-23 and Connecticut defeated Syracuse 30-7 setting up a virtual title game this weekend. South Florida rolled over Louisville 55-17 in the other BIG EAST matchup of the week.
The remaining BIG EAST schedule:
UConn at West Virginia on Nov. 24
Cincinnati at Syracuse on Nov. 24
South Florida at Pittsburg on Nov. 24
Rutgers at Louisville on Nov. 29
Pittsburgh at West Virginia on Dec. 1
The Bowl picture:
Five BIG EAST teams are currently bowl eligible.
UConn 9-2 overall 5-1 in the BIG EAST
West Virginia 9-1, 4-1
Cincinnati 8-3, 3-3
South Florida 8-3, 3-3
Rutgers 7-4, 3-3
The winner of the UConn/West Virginia game will more than likely be the league champion and move on to a BCS bowl. (There is a tiny chance of that not happening, but it’s very, very unlikely.) Last year the BIG EAST was 5-0 in bowl games. It would be nice to see them do it again.
Snow at the Aerie
Woke up this Sunday morning to 28 degrees at 8 AM (hey! there was lots of football last night!) and snow falling. When I checked with weather.com I found that they are reporting a current temperature of 34 degrees with a high of 38 for today. The snow is supposed to stop with total accumulations of 2 inches or so with the possibility of more at the higher elevations. The Aerie is at a higher elevation (2100 feet) which is why our temperatures are usually around 5 degrees cooler. (I’d love to know where they (weather.com) have their reporting station.)
Winter Wonderland (?)
With no breeze to speak of, the powdery snow adorns the trees and goldenrod stalks. There’s another hill out there in the distance that is hidden by the snowfall.
Winter Wonderland (?)
With no breeze to speak of, the powdery snow adorns the trees and goldenrod stalks. There’s another hill out there in the distance that is hidden by the snowfall.
Week 12 Results
Week 12 Results
Hoo-boy. Another wild weekend in college football land. It's a good thing there were so many teams with the week off. As it was two Top 5 teams fell to unranked opponents.
I’ll be using the AP Writers’/the Coaches’/ and the BCS polls in that order. NR means a team doesn’t show in the Top 25.
#1/1/1 LSU (10-1, 6-1) traveled to Mississippi (3-8, 0-7) No upset here. LSU wins 41-24 to remain #1
#2/2/2 Oregon (8-2, 5-2) Arizona (5-6, 4-4) I wrote: “Dennis Dixon and crew should be fun to watch.” Well, they might have been but the Thursday night Upset Bug bit #2 Oregon this week as Dennis Dixon’s weak knee took him out of the game early allowing Arizona to breath easily in the second quarter as they scored 21 points. Dixon looked fine on a 39-yard TD run but just a series latter his knee gave out and he crumpled to the turf untouched. Antoine Carson returned an interception of the Ducks’ back-up QB Brady Leaf and a punt for TDs for Arizona. Arizona wins 34-24.
#3/3/4 Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1) Oklahoma didn’t even come close against Texas Tech (7-4, 3-4) as the Red Raiders prevented a Sooners’ season sweep against the Lone Star state. The Sooners had previously taken down North Texas, Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor. Oklahoma dropped this one 34-27 after they lost Sam Bradford, their starting QB, early in the first quarter. Back up QB Joey Halzle nearly pulled it out but Graham Harrell, the Raiders QB had a great game throwing the ball. Harrell threw for more than 400 yards for the 10th time this season. In this game he completed 46 of 72 attempts for 421 yards for 2 TDs.
#4/4/3 Kansas (11-0, 7-0) The Jayhawks remain undefeated beating Iowa State (3-9, 2-6) 45-7. Next up is Missouri.
#5/5/6 West Virginia (9-1, 4-1) The Mountaineers edged Cincinnati (8-2, 3-3) 28-23 in a game with National Title implications—if WVU can get passed UConn next week.
#6/6/5 Missouri (10-1, 6-1) The Tigers beat Kansas State (5-6, 3-5) 49-32. Next week they play Kansas.
#7/7/7 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1) The Buckeyes put themselves in the Rose Bowl and maybe back in the hunt for a National Title game with a win over Michigan (8-4, 6-2) 14-3.
#8/9/9 Georgia (9-2, 6-2) The Bulldogs beat Kentucky (7-4, 3-4) 24-13 to stay ahead of Tennessee atop the SEC East.
#9/8/8 Arizona State (9-1, 6-1) The Sun Devils were idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #11/13/11 USC.
#10/10/10 Virginia Tech (9-2, 6-1) The Hokies hosted Miami (Fla.) (5-6, 2-5). VT is now tied with Virginia for the ACC Coastal Division with a match between the two scheduled for November 24.
#11/13/11 Southern California (8-2, 5-2) The Trojans were idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #9/8/8 Arizona State.
#12/11/13 Texas (9-2, 5-2) The Longhorns (idle this week) have beaten just about everyone else in the state (TCU, Rice, Baylor, Texas Tech), now they travel to play Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4) on November 23rd.
#13/12/16 Hawaii (10-0, 7-0) The Warriors of Hawaii played without Colt Brennan for all but two plays. Backup Tyler Graunke stepped in and threw for 358 yards and 2 TDs while Dan Kelly kicked a 45-yard FG with 11 seconds left to win over Nevada (5-5, 3-3) 28-26.
#14/14/12 Florida (8-3, 5-3) The Gators feasted on the Florida Atlantic Owls (5-5, 4-1) at the Swamp this week, 59-20. Tebow has now thrown for 20 TDs and run for 20. One more record for the sophomore QB.
#15/16/15 Clemson (8-3, 5-3) The Tigers dropped a close one to Boston College Eagles (9-2, 5-2) in a battle for first place in the ACC Atlantic Division. BC is in the ACC Championship game.
#16/17/14 Virginia (9-2, 6-1) Idle this week, the Cavaliers can take the ACC Coastal Division by defeating Virginia Tech on November 24.
#17/15/18 Boise State (10-1, 7-0) The Broncos used that Smurf Turf to their advantage against Idaho (1-10, 0-7) 58-14. The Broncos final game is for all the WAC marbles at Hawaii on No v. 23.
#18/18/17 Boston College (9-2, 6-2) Managed to defeat Clemson (8-3, 5-3) to win the ACC Atlantic Division and will face Virginia or Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game. (Although they do have to play Miami (Fla.) next week.)
#19/19/20 Tennessee (8-3, 5-2) The Volunteers squeaked past Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-6) 25-24. The Commodores missed a long field goal in the closing minute.
#20/21/19 Illinois (9-3, 7-2) The Juice Williams led Fighting Illini beat Northwestern (6-6, 3-5) 41-22.
#21/25/22 Cincinnati (8-3, 3-3) The Bearcats lost a close one to #5/5/6 West Virginia (9-1, 4-1) 28-23.
#22/20/23 Kentucky (7-4, 3-4) The Wildcats lost to #8/9/9 Georgia (9-2, 6-2) 24-13.
#23/23/21 Michigan (8-4, 6-2) The Wolverines dropped this one to #7/7/7 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1) 14-3.
#24/24/25 Wisconsin (9-3, 5-3) defeated Minnesota (1-11, 0-8) 41-34.
#25/NR/24 Connecticut (9-2, 5-1) The Huskies took care of business against Syracuse (2-9, 1-5) 30-7. Next up for the Huskies: West Virginia in Morgantown.
Hoo-boy. Another wild weekend in college football land. It's a good thing there were so many teams with the week off. As it was two Top 5 teams fell to unranked opponents.
I’ll be using the AP Writers’/the Coaches’/ and the BCS polls in that order. NR means a team doesn’t show in the Top 25.
#1/1/1 LSU (10-1, 6-1) traveled to Mississippi (3-8, 0-7) No upset here. LSU wins 41-24 to remain #1
#2/2/2 Oregon (8-2, 5-2) Arizona (5-6, 4-4) I wrote: “Dennis Dixon and crew should be fun to watch.” Well, they might have been but the Thursday night Upset Bug bit #2 Oregon this week as Dennis Dixon’s weak knee took him out of the game early allowing Arizona to breath easily in the second quarter as they scored 21 points. Dixon looked fine on a 39-yard TD run but just a series latter his knee gave out and he crumpled to the turf untouched. Antoine Carson returned an interception of the Ducks’ back-up QB Brady Leaf and a punt for TDs for Arizona. Arizona wins 34-24.
#3/3/4 Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1) Oklahoma didn’t even come close against Texas Tech (7-4, 3-4) as the Red Raiders prevented a Sooners’ season sweep against the Lone Star state. The Sooners had previously taken down North Texas, Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor. Oklahoma dropped this one 34-27 after they lost Sam Bradford, their starting QB, early in the first quarter. Back up QB Joey Halzle nearly pulled it out but Graham Harrell, the Raiders QB had a great game throwing the ball. Harrell threw for more than 400 yards for the 10th time this season. In this game he completed 46 of 72 attempts for 421 yards for 2 TDs.
#4/4/3 Kansas (11-0, 7-0) The Jayhawks remain undefeated beating Iowa State (3-9, 2-6) 45-7. Next up is Missouri.
#5/5/6 West Virginia (9-1, 4-1) The Mountaineers edged Cincinnati (8-2, 3-3) 28-23 in a game with National Title implications—if WVU can get passed UConn next week.
#6/6/5 Missouri (10-1, 6-1) The Tigers beat Kansas State (5-6, 3-5) 49-32. Next week they play Kansas.
#7/7/7 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1) The Buckeyes put themselves in the Rose Bowl and maybe back in the hunt for a National Title game with a win over Michigan (8-4, 6-2) 14-3.
#8/9/9 Georgia (9-2, 6-2) The Bulldogs beat Kentucky (7-4, 3-4) 24-13 to stay ahead of Tennessee atop the SEC East.
#9/8/8 Arizona State (9-1, 6-1) The Sun Devils were idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #11/13/11 USC.
#10/10/10 Virginia Tech (9-2, 6-1) The Hokies hosted Miami (Fla.) (5-6, 2-5). VT is now tied with Virginia for the ACC Coastal Division with a match between the two scheduled for November 24.
#11/13/11 Southern California (8-2, 5-2) The Trojans were idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #9/8/8 Arizona State.
#12/11/13 Texas (9-2, 5-2) The Longhorns (idle this week) have beaten just about everyone else in the state (TCU, Rice, Baylor, Texas Tech), now they travel to play Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4) on November 23rd.
#13/12/16 Hawaii (10-0, 7-0) The Warriors of Hawaii played without Colt Brennan for all but two plays. Backup Tyler Graunke stepped in and threw for 358 yards and 2 TDs while Dan Kelly kicked a 45-yard FG with 11 seconds left to win over Nevada (5-5, 3-3) 28-26.
#14/14/12 Florida (8-3, 5-3) The Gators feasted on the Florida Atlantic Owls (5-5, 4-1) at the Swamp this week, 59-20. Tebow has now thrown for 20 TDs and run for 20. One more record for the sophomore QB.
#15/16/15 Clemson (8-3, 5-3) The Tigers dropped a close one to Boston College Eagles (9-2, 5-2) in a battle for first place in the ACC Atlantic Division. BC is in the ACC Championship game.
#16/17/14 Virginia (9-2, 6-1) Idle this week, the Cavaliers can take the ACC Coastal Division by defeating Virginia Tech on November 24.
#17/15/18 Boise State (10-1, 7-0) The Broncos used that Smurf Turf to their advantage against Idaho (1-10, 0-7) 58-14. The Broncos final game is for all the WAC marbles at Hawaii on No v. 23.
#18/18/17 Boston College (9-2, 6-2) Managed to defeat Clemson (8-3, 5-3) to win the ACC Atlantic Division and will face Virginia or Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game. (Although they do have to play Miami (Fla.) next week.)
#19/19/20 Tennessee (8-3, 5-2) The Volunteers squeaked past Vanderbilt (5-6, 2-6) 25-24. The Commodores missed a long field goal in the closing minute.
#20/21/19 Illinois (9-3, 7-2) The Juice Williams led Fighting Illini beat Northwestern (6-6, 3-5) 41-22.
#21/25/22 Cincinnati (8-3, 3-3) The Bearcats lost a close one to #5/5/6 West Virginia (9-1, 4-1) 28-23.
#22/20/23 Kentucky (7-4, 3-4) The Wildcats lost to #8/9/9 Georgia (9-2, 6-2) 24-13.
#23/23/21 Michigan (8-4, 6-2) The Wolverines dropped this one to #7/7/7 Ohio State (11-1, 7-1) 14-3.
#24/24/25 Wisconsin (9-3, 5-3) defeated Minnesota (1-11, 0-8) 41-34.
#25/NR/24 Connecticut (9-2, 5-1) The Huskies took care of business against Syracuse (2-9, 1-5) 30-7. Next up for the Huskies: West Virginia in Morgantown.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Ooops!
We had a visitor on the porch this afternoon.
This white-breasted nuthatch tried to use the sliding glass door as a shortcut through the kitchen and out the front. Nope. That won't work.
He thumped in to the glass pretty hard but after about 15 minutes was able to fly off on his own.
This white-breasted nuthatch tried to use the sliding glass door as a shortcut through the kitchen and out the front. Nope. That won't work.
He thumped in to the glass pretty hard but after about 15 minutes was able to fly off on his own.
Woodworking: Doors for the basement
I spent the last couple of days turning some left over pine flooring into doors for the workshop and utility room in the basement. The flooring is tongue and groove, 1-1/2 inches thick and about 5-inches wide. Enough was left over from the flooring of the upstairs bedroom and loft to construct three doors 80" tall. The doors are 36" wide for the workshop and two 24" wide for the utility room.
The doors are exactly like the one we built for the entrance to the attic off the loft.
The workshop door, 36" wide by 80" tall is ready to have the hardware installed.
Two 24" wide door panels are glued up and the braces have been screwed on the back side of the doors.
These doors are only slightly thicker than a paneled door I might have purchased at Lowes or Home Depot, but because they are solid--that is there is no recessed panel structure--they are pretty heavy.
While I was working at cutting these to length and riping a couple pieces to obtain the correct width, I ended up covered in sawdust. All I could think of was how clean Norm Abrahms shop always is and how there is never any sawdust on his flannel shirts.
I definitely need to get myself a shop apron and a really good vac/dust removal system.
The doors are exactly like the one we built for the entrance to the attic off the loft.
The workshop door, 36" wide by 80" tall is ready to have the hardware installed.
Two 24" wide door panels are glued up and the braces have been screwed on the back side of the doors.
These doors are only slightly thicker than a paneled door I might have purchased at Lowes or Home Depot, but because they are solid--that is there is no recessed panel structure--they are pretty heavy.
While I was working at cutting these to length and riping a couple pieces to obtain the correct width, I ended up covered in sawdust. All I could think of was how clean Norm Abrahms shop always is and how there is never any sawdust on his flannel shirts.
I definitely need to get myself a shop apron and a really good vac/dust removal system.
More trouble for the "settled" science
of ACC*
(*Anthropomorphic Climate Change)
Over at Ace of Spades the Purple Avenger has posted this:
NASA: Arctic ocean changes may not be due to global warming which links to this report: NASA Sees Arctic Ocean Circulation Do an About-Face which contains some interesting observations.
Coupled with the item on la Nina I posted about yesterday I can’t help but think things will get very interesting in the next couple of years.
Is there a warranty with the Nobel Prize? You know, just in case it really is all hooey?
[BTW: The temps at the Aerie stayed right at 28 degrees all night and there was a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. As noon approaches it has warmed all the way to 33 degrees.]
Over at Ace of Spades the Purple Avenger has posted this:
NASA: Arctic ocean changes may not be due to global warming which links to this report: NASA Sees Arctic Ocean Circulation Do an About-Face which contains some interesting observations.
Coupled with the item on la Nina I posted about yesterday I can’t help but think things will get very interesting in the next couple of years.
Is there a warranty with the Nobel Prize? You know, just in case it really is all hooey?
[BTW: The temps at the Aerie stayed right at 28 degrees all night and there was a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. As noon approaches it has warmed all the way to 33 degrees.]
Friday, November 16, 2007
But the science is settled. Isn't it?
Looks like the Aerie is not the only cool cold place today.
Al Gore Wrong Again
But I thought ALL climatologists unequivocally blamed greenhouse gases for global warming? That it was all man's fault?
If you scroll down through the comments, pay attention to the freeze warning someone copy-and-pasted for South Carolina and Georgia.
[BTW: It never did get above 31 degrees here at the Aerie today. The average high for this day is 47 degrees.]
Al Gore Wrong Again
On October 14, 1997, Vice President Al Gore said, “For those who argue that global warming is already changing the world’s climate, this year’s El Nino weather front is more than enough evidence”, the audience was told by Gore. In the next day, a report by the San Francisco Chronicle said: “Gore links El Nino to Global Warming”. The Vice President stated at the summit that growing frequency of El Nino episodes could be connected to the gradual heating of the atmosphere caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Ten years later residents in Argentina and Brazil are wondering if this winter will ever end. Buenos Aires recorded this Thursday (November 15th) the lowest November temperature in 90 years. Temperature in the Downtown weather station reached 2.5C. Since records began more than a century ago, only two days had colder lows in November. It was in 1914 (1.6) and 1917 (2.4). And ninety years ago the urban heat island effect was much less pronounced than nowadays. In Brazil's southernmost province Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil temperatures fell to 2.3C. In Sao Joaquim Monday's (Nov., 12) the temperature was -1.2 C with frost.
The culprit is a developing la Nina, a cooling of the water in the eastern Pacific along the South American coast, that some climatologists believe could indicate a return to the la Nina dominated situation that dominated from 1947 to 1977. El Ninos, a warming of East Pacific waters, have been more common since then. Some climatologists believe the el Ninos may have caused what the IPCC calls "global warming".
But I thought ALL climatologists unequivocally blamed greenhouse gases for global warming? That it was all man's fault?
If you scroll down through the comments, pay attention to the freeze warning someone copy-and-pasted for South Carolina and Georgia.
[BTW: It never did get above 31 degrees here at the Aerie today. The average high for this day is 47 degrees.]
Brrr! (once more)(yet again)
The wind has been blowing out of the north-northwest all night and bringing with it what is perhaps THE major export of Canada--cold air. (Yeah, I know that Canada supplies the US with a great deal of natural gas used to heat homes and such. It's just their polite way of making up for all that damn cold air.)
It was 34 degrees just after midnight according to my max-min indoor-outdoor thermometer and dropped to just under 30 degrees at 10 AM. Any water on the deck from yesterday's rain has frozen.
It's overcast and windy (not breezy) and raw. You can smell snow in the air but we're just supposed to get flurries. A peek at the automated weather maps shows lake effect snow showers streaming southeast off Lakes Erie and Ontario.
The chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and goldfinches are hitting the feeders pretty hard and they have been joined by a bevy of gray squirrels.
It was 34 degrees just after midnight according to my max-min indoor-outdoor thermometer and dropped to just under 30 degrees at 10 AM. Any water on the deck from yesterday's rain has frozen.
It's overcast and windy (not breezy) and raw. You can smell snow in the air but we're just supposed to get flurries. A peek at the automated weather maps shows lake effect snow showers streaming southeast off Lakes Erie and Ontario.
The chickadees, titmice, nuthatches and goldfinches are hitting the feeders pretty hard and they have been joined by a bevy of gray squirrels.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
National Ammo Day is
right around the corner
November 19th is National Ammo Day. I may have to go out and buy a couple boxes for the Super Redhawk. I haven’t had it out to fire in a couple of years what with having damn few places in NJ to pull out that six-shooting bad boy and then being in transition with everything in storage at the Bolt Hole in NY the nanny-state where I was technically not supposed to have it at all. Yeah, a couple boxes of .44 Magnum (just so I can work on strengthening my wrist) and then I’ll have to find myself a place to go shoot.
(I’m going to have to get something lighter to plink with or maybe for personal defense—maybe both. I might even see about getting a carry permit. Maybe in April when buy a gun day rolls around.
No need to purchase any rifle ammunition. Only fired once so far this season and twice last year. Didn’t even get to use the bench rest for practice this summer so I’ve got scads of .270 and .30-.30 ammo. I did buy more sabotted bullets and powder for the muzzle loader this fall but didn’t see a damn deer during the entire week. Ergo I only had to make one “shot” when I dumped my load. (That sounds kinda scatological, doesn’t it?)
One thing I will have to get before spring is a couple of dozen arrows. Over the years, practice with the bow (which I do do or I won’t go hunting with it) has taken its toll in bent shafts from hitting one arrow against one already in the target and the occasional flyer that hits the backstop. I’ve only split one arrow Robin Hood style but have damaged two or three knocks in the last three years. Right now, I’ve got about a dozen arrows with mismatched fletching and it plays havoc with my groupings. I wonder, do arrows count as “ammo”?
(I’m going to have to get something lighter to plink with or maybe for personal defense—maybe both. I might even see about getting a carry permit. Maybe in April when buy a gun day rolls around.
No need to purchase any rifle ammunition. Only fired once so far this season and twice last year. Didn’t even get to use the bench rest for practice this summer so I’ve got scads of .270 and .30-.30 ammo. I did buy more sabotted bullets and powder for the muzzle loader this fall but didn’t see a damn deer during the entire week. Ergo I only had to make one “shot” when I dumped my load. (That sounds kinda scatological, doesn’t it?)
One thing I will have to get before spring is a couple of dozen arrows. Over the years, practice with the bow (which I do do or I won’t go hunting with it) has taken its toll in bent shafts from hitting one arrow against one already in the target and the occasional flyer that hits the backstop. I’ve only split one arrow Robin Hood style but have damaged two or three knocks in the last three years. Right now, I’ve got about a dozen arrows with mismatched fletching and it plays havoc with my groupings. I wonder, do arrows count as “ammo”?
Evening Weather Update
We left the aerie at 9:45 AM to drive east to Deposit, NY and the Beaver Mountain offices. It was snowing like crazy at the time and an inch of wet snow was on the ground. It had rained much of the night. At the bottom of the hill (the Aerie is at 2100 feet, the major road in the valley is at 1400 feet), the temperature had risen enough that, while there was some wet snow falling, it was not accumulating on the ground.
It rained much of the way to Beaver Mountain and a goodly portion of the way back. On checking the rain gauge when we returned, I found we had had 0.9 inches of rain at the Aeire since yesterday.
The temperature is dropping again and we may be in for some snow showers for the next two or three days.
It rained much of the way to Beaver Mountain and a goodly portion of the way back. On checking the rain gauge when we returned, I found we had had 0.9 inches of rain at the Aeire since yesterday.
The temperature is dropping again and we may be in for some snow showers for the next two or three days.
A Visit by A Gore Disciple
This is long but I have to say it.
Last night’s speaker at the TAS (Tiadaghton Audubon Society) was a young woman from Germany here in the states to study grassland sparrows out of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Her talk was one of the slide show presentations of Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth about climate change as caused by man.
I had promised to behave and did so …mostly. I only interrupted a few times. The bulk of the audience either agreed with all/some of the questionable evidence and predictions being made or just wanted to be polite, so I kept my mouth shut unless something seemed too unreal.
A number of the TAS members (whom I never see at the monthly meetings or on bird walks) had seen the movie and so were able to answer questions posed by the presenter or, as Terry so aptly put it, were able to shout, “AMEN!” at the appropriate times. (Actually it was more likely that they would shout, “Exxon/Mobil!” when the time came to blame some corporation for all the “deniers”, “Skeptics” and “not reputable” scientists out there still combating the True Believers. Yeah, at times it was like a camp revival meeting. Not having seen IT, I felt I missed out on some of the insider’s—I don’t want to say “jokes”, more like angst.
The talk and slide show were well done and I tried not to get upset with the messenger. She was an invited guest, an ornithologist from Germany, a sincere, caring woman—even if she was a fanatical proselytizer for The Cause. (Although, with the group that sat in that room last night, she didn’t have to work hard for converts.)
The talk began with a little introduction to the affects of Climate Change and Global Warming on birds and their habitat. The problems that arise when birds that have linked their migratory and breeding times to the sun light hours suddenly find that their food or other factors are operating on a different schedule due to temperature/moisture level changes brought about by CC & GW. As much of this is pretty well documented in species here in North America and Europe, this portion of the program was, to me, more appropriate to the venue and a historical perspective at the same time. There was some predictions being made about where species might relocate or which ones might find themselves painted into the corner of the extinction room, so to speak. Again these topics were appropriate to the venue and the speaker’s background.
But then she made a statement about the predictions that started my blood to boil. She said something to the effect that they (the scientists studying the birds and creating computer models of their future) can’t really create accurate models because of the number of variables involved. Well, duh! I took a biological modeling course in the early ‘80s (before personal computers would have made it a great deal easier to do my home work!) and as part of that course I worked to build a computer program of white-tail deer populations. I was amazed at the number of variable that had to be considered. And when you thought you had accounted for all the major ones (you usually were safe in ignoring what you viewed as a minor factor) one of the minor factors would turn out NOT to be so minor and would take your model and spin it on its ear. It was a Murphy’s Law of Computer Models. So when she admitted that the models couldn’t account for all the variables…to me that was like saying , “We’re about to build a house but it might be a bit shaky because we haven’t been able to understand how to create a solid foundation yet.” Then she went on to try and build the house of Climate Change As Caused by Man.
She spoke of the melting of the Arctic Ice and the thinness of the polar ice. She showed slides of the Larsen B Ice Shelf collapse in 2002 in which an area of ice the size of Rhode Island broke off and disintegrated within a 35 day period. Larsen B Ice Shelf Collapses in Antarctica) (I thought to myself: The ice shelf is unsupported from below as it floats on the sea. If it extends far enough out it would have to break off eventually. This particular ice shelf has been pushed forward by the accumulating snows in the interior of Antarctica for thousands of years. That it should break off now is certainly serendipitous for those who wish to use this as evidence of Global Warming. Heck, given an infinitely long 2x12, if I were to slowly push it over the edge of a cliff, it would eventually break off at the cliff’s edge.) Then she said the summer temperatures in Greenland were 13 degrees Celsius warmer than average.
That’s when I finally cracked. “Thirteen degrees warmer than what?” She didn’t know, she said, but obviously it was pretty warm. Just look at the melt water in the picture. But she did admit she would have to find out for future presentations. (Someone else in the audience said it didn’t matter since 13 degrees C was a heck of a jump.) I shook my head and shut up again as I realized I might be the only one looking at this data presentation with a non-partisan eye.
She went on to say that the IPCC report that said that said oceans would rise only 1 meter were only taking into account the expansion of water due to temperature rise and that Al Gore’s call for a 6-7 meter rise would occur took into account the melting of all the ice on Greenland, the Arctic and all the mountain glaciers of the Northern Hemisphere, a melting, she said, that was well underway. The presenter went on to say that recent findings of what happens with the melt water on the surface of glaciers as it funnels down through crevasses to the inner and lower parts of the ice where it lubricated the flow of the glacier were alarming. (Funny, I thought to myself. Glaciologists have long known this to be the cause of kames, eskers and other glacial till deposits. Just because it’s now being measured on existing glaciers it’s become “alarming” evidence of Global Warming?)
She showed a graph allegedly showing the rate of melting of glacial ice. But the graph was not presented in such a way as it could be read. The x-axis was rotated toward the viewer about 60 degrees and tilted downward. Just one of the many little tricks used to distort the information the graph may contain.
A map of Florida that is slowly inundated to show what would happen should Greenland melt was put on the screen for its obvious shock value. (No indication of altitudes above sea level was given. You’re supposed to assume it’s the 6-7 meters that Gore predicts.)
She had graphs showing the fluctuation of temperatures for the last 650,000 years and an overlay to show atmospheric CO2. While the two lines were remarkably similar, she admitted that CO2 fluctuations follow those of temperature—except in the latest instance. Here, CO2 rise seems to be preceding temperature rise. It wasn’t quite the “hockey stick” graph but it was pretty close. Then she made two more statements that had me shaking my head and muttering to myself. First, she said it doesn’t matter which comes first, CO2 or temperature. (It sure as hell does if you’re trying to prove cause and effect!) Then she extended the graph of CO2 to the year 2050 based upon our (the world’s) current output, recent growth and computer models. (What? You mean those models that you said had to many variables to be reliable predictors of species movements are now accurate enough to predict temperature rise and Global Change?)
Results of temperature rise were discussed vis-Ã -vis heat related deaths (using the data from the recent heat wave in Europe that “killed approximately 35,000 people, mostly elderly”) and drought (with special mention of the US southeast and southwest followed by a slide of a raging forest fire). *sigh* The implication being made was that if the flooded coastlines don't get us, we'll all burn or be dehydrated to death.
Opposition? What opposition? Nothing but a bunch of hired hacks.
Then we got into the smearing of any dissenters. (This is where things got a bit like a revival meeting as those that saw Inconvenient Truth became the Greek chorus.) First up was Siegfried Frederick Singer. who does have a bit of an unusual background and invites all sorts of questions if you look no further than this Wikipedia entry. Then the guns were turned upon Exxon and Exxon funded groups and studies. Big Oil seems to be a favorite target whether it’s for producing too many greenhouse gases (even though the speaker railed against coal as the prime source of CO2), not enough heating oil for homes or gasoline for automobiles or high prices for what it does produce. Exxon might as well adopt the Target logo.
Having dismissed the easily named and unsympathetic critics it was time to move on to all the other “non-reputable” scientists. (Unless you’re a backer or an acolyte, you are “non-reputable” for all “reputable scientists believe” that “there is no debate.”) As proof of the position take by “reputable scientists” a slide was put on the screen as the speaker said a study was done of articles in peer reviewed journals (none of which were named) and it was found that every one—EVERY ONE—of the 928 articles studied supported Anthropomorphic Climate Change (aka Global Warming As Caused by Man). Zero percent of the articles looked at thought otherwise. Remarkable! Meanwhile, in “popular journals,” 58% of the 636 articles studied were critical of ACC. Again no names of the “popular” publications were provided. You want to talk about cherry-picking your data! Unbelievable, but there were members of the audience who ate it up! You see, those “popular” articles were by people/groups funded by…wait for it…EXXON! *groan*
Now, for the big finish.
The speaker went on to what we can do to prevent all this death and destruction that lies on our very doorstep. First though she assured us that we have the ability and technology in the developed nations to fend off this scourge. All that is lacking, she said, is the political will. Yes, it will cost money, but we have plenty of it. Look at what happened with hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. It would have cost $14 Billion to rebuild the dikes prior to Katrina, she said. Instead we’re spending $200 Billion to rebuild the city. (Hey, if the water’s going to rise 6-7 meters, maybe we shouldn’t be doing that! And she showed a map of the US with every county in which a Katrina refugee (her word) relocated shaded in gray. It was almost all gray, of course as there was no indication of how many ‘refugees” went to each county. But that’s not important. We can’t, she said, relocate all those folks from low lying coastal areas.)
Back to the money. We have plenty, she said. Just look at the Iraq War and its daily cost. (Of course! Got to get something in here that is anti-war no matter how subtle!)
Okay, what can we do to stop the warming?
The temperature increase must be kept below 2 degrees Celsius. To do that we need to reduce our output of CO2 and other Green House Gases globally by 50% by 2050 and in industrial nations they must be reduced by 90% over the same time frame. (No indication of what this will mean to our life styles at all.) Changes must be made in the way we live at home, in our schools, our churches, our communities, the state, the world.
We must call or government representatives and insist they get on the ball to combat this most important threat.
We need to insulate our homes and make them more energy efficient. Our means of transportation must also be more efficient users of energy and must eventually move away from green house gas emissions as much as possible. Industry too must become more efficient in its use of fuels and reduce its emissions drastically. A pie chart showing our source of energy in PA was flashed on the screen.(Did you know we were one of the worst polluting states in the union? Only Texas and California produce more GHGs. Who’d have thunk it?) Coal is the major source of energy and of CO2. “No new coal fired plants should be built without CO2 sequestration.” (Since the Supreme Court has ruled the EPA can/must regulate CO2 and other green house gases as air pollutants despite being a natural component of the atmosphere, I don’t think that’s a problem anymore.) We must learn to use renewable energy such as hydro, wind and solar just as many towns in Europe are already 100% renewable. Of course, there was no mention of the use of nuclear power. (35% of Pennsylvania’s power comes from nuclear plants.)
You really can’t argue with many of the ideas for conserving energy and reducing pollution, and I think that’s the goal. Since that part of the program sounds so reasonable, everything else must also be reasonable including the call for $50 Billion from each nation per year, to combat climate change. (Of course, the poorer nations can’t possibly afford to do that so the money will have to come from…anyone? Buehler? Yep, the developed “rich” nations.)
Finally, the speaker closed with one of her favorite quotes about how you can’t achieve anything if you don’t try, but even in merely trying you’ve achieved a great deal…or something like that. I was total unfocused as to what it said when I saw who said it: Noam Chomsky. Afterward I thought, “How fitting.”
[As a side note, it was raining when I started typing this up this morning and the temperature was just around 35 degrees at the Aerie. It’s still around 35 degree at 9:30 AM but it’s snowing to beat the band outside and accumulating quite nicely. The weather gurus still insist it isn’t snowing when I check the weather.com site or the TV.]
Last night’s speaker at the TAS (Tiadaghton Audubon Society) was a young woman from Germany here in the states to study grassland sparrows out of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Her talk was one of the slide show presentations of Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth about climate change as caused by man.
I had promised to behave and did so …mostly. I only interrupted a few times. The bulk of the audience either agreed with all/some of the questionable evidence and predictions being made or just wanted to be polite, so I kept my mouth shut unless something seemed too unreal.
A number of the TAS members (whom I never see at the monthly meetings or on bird walks) had seen the movie and so were able to answer questions posed by the presenter or, as Terry so aptly put it, were able to shout, “AMEN!” at the appropriate times. (Actually it was more likely that they would shout, “Exxon/Mobil!” when the time came to blame some corporation for all the “deniers”, “Skeptics” and “not reputable” scientists out there still combating the True Believers. Yeah, at times it was like a camp revival meeting. Not having seen IT, I felt I missed out on some of the insider’s—I don’t want to say “jokes”, more like angst.
The talk and slide show were well done and I tried not to get upset with the messenger. She was an invited guest, an ornithologist from Germany, a sincere, caring woman—even if she was a fanatical proselytizer for The Cause. (Although, with the group that sat in that room last night, she didn’t have to work hard for converts.)
The talk began with a little introduction to the affects of Climate Change and Global Warming on birds and their habitat. The problems that arise when birds that have linked their migratory and breeding times to the sun light hours suddenly find that their food or other factors are operating on a different schedule due to temperature/moisture level changes brought about by CC & GW. As much of this is pretty well documented in species here in North America and Europe, this portion of the program was, to me, more appropriate to the venue and a historical perspective at the same time. There was some predictions being made about where species might relocate or which ones might find themselves painted into the corner of the extinction room, so to speak. Again these topics were appropriate to the venue and the speaker’s background.
But then she made a statement about the predictions that started my blood to boil. She said something to the effect that they (the scientists studying the birds and creating computer models of their future) can’t really create accurate models because of the number of variables involved. Well, duh! I took a biological modeling course in the early ‘80s (before personal computers would have made it a great deal easier to do my home work!) and as part of that course I worked to build a computer program of white-tail deer populations. I was amazed at the number of variable that had to be considered. And when you thought you had accounted for all the major ones (you usually were safe in ignoring what you viewed as a minor factor) one of the minor factors would turn out NOT to be so minor and would take your model and spin it on its ear. It was a Murphy’s Law of Computer Models. So when she admitted that the models couldn’t account for all the variables…to me that was like saying , “We’re about to build a house but it might be a bit shaky because we haven’t been able to understand how to create a solid foundation yet.” Then she went on to try and build the house of Climate Change As Caused by Man.
She spoke of the melting of the Arctic Ice and the thinness of the polar ice. She showed slides of the Larsen B Ice Shelf collapse in 2002 in which an area of ice the size of Rhode Island broke off and disintegrated within a 35 day period. Larsen B Ice Shelf Collapses in Antarctica) (I thought to myself: The ice shelf is unsupported from below as it floats on the sea. If it extends far enough out it would have to break off eventually. This particular ice shelf has been pushed forward by the accumulating snows in the interior of Antarctica for thousands of years. That it should break off now is certainly serendipitous for those who wish to use this as evidence of Global Warming. Heck, given an infinitely long 2x12, if I were to slowly push it over the edge of a cliff, it would eventually break off at the cliff’s edge.) Then she said the summer temperatures in Greenland were 13 degrees Celsius warmer than average.
That’s when I finally cracked. “Thirteen degrees warmer than what?” She didn’t know, she said, but obviously it was pretty warm. Just look at the melt water in the picture. But she did admit she would have to find out for future presentations. (Someone else in the audience said it didn’t matter since 13 degrees C was a heck of a jump.) I shook my head and shut up again as I realized I might be the only one looking at this data presentation with a non-partisan eye.
She went on to say that the IPCC report that said that said oceans would rise only 1 meter were only taking into account the expansion of water due to temperature rise and that Al Gore’s call for a 6-7 meter rise would occur took into account the melting of all the ice on Greenland, the Arctic and all the mountain glaciers of the Northern Hemisphere, a melting, she said, that was well underway. The presenter went on to say that recent findings of what happens with the melt water on the surface of glaciers as it funnels down through crevasses to the inner and lower parts of the ice where it lubricated the flow of the glacier were alarming. (Funny, I thought to myself. Glaciologists have long known this to be the cause of kames, eskers and other glacial till deposits. Just because it’s now being measured on existing glaciers it’s become “alarming” evidence of Global Warming?)
She showed a graph allegedly showing the rate of melting of glacial ice. But the graph was not presented in such a way as it could be read. The x-axis was rotated toward the viewer about 60 degrees and tilted downward. Just one of the many little tricks used to distort the information the graph may contain.
A map of Florida that is slowly inundated to show what would happen should Greenland melt was put on the screen for its obvious shock value. (No indication of altitudes above sea level was given. You’re supposed to assume it’s the 6-7 meters that Gore predicts.)
She had graphs showing the fluctuation of temperatures for the last 650,000 years and an overlay to show atmospheric CO2. While the two lines were remarkably similar, she admitted that CO2 fluctuations follow those of temperature—except in the latest instance. Here, CO2 rise seems to be preceding temperature rise. It wasn’t quite the “hockey stick” graph but it was pretty close. Then she made two more statements that had me shaking my head and muttering to myself. First, she said it doesn’t matter which comes first, CO2 or temperature. (It sure as hell does if you’re trying to prove cause and effect!) Then she extended the graph of CO2 to the year 2050 based upon our (the world’s) current output, recent growth and computer models. (What? You mean those models that you said had to many variables to be reliable predictors of species movements are now accurate enough to predict temperature rise and Global Change?)
Results of temperature rise were discussed vis-Ã -vis heat related deaths (using the data from the recent heat wave in Europe that “killed approximately 35,000 people, mostly elderly”) and drought (with special mention of the US southeast and southwest followed by a slide of a raging forest fire). *sigh* The implication being made was that if the flooded coastlines don't get us, we'll all burn or be dehydrated to death.
Opposition? What opposition? Nothing but a bunch of hired hacks.
Then we got into the smearing of any dissenters. (This is where things got a bit like a revival meeting as those that saw Inconvenient Truth became the Greek chorus.) First up was Siegfried Frederick Singer. who does have a bit of an unusual background and invites all sorts of questions if you look no further than this Wikipedia entry. Then the guns were turned upon Exxon and Exxon funded groups and studies. Big Oil seems to be a favorite target whether it’s for producing too many greenhouse gases (even though the speaker railed against coal as the prime source of CO2), not enough heating oil for homes or gasoline for automobiles or high prices for what it does produce. Exxon might as well adopt the Target logo.
Having dismissed the easily named and unsympathetic critics it was time to move on to all the other “non-reputable” scientists. (Unless you’re a backer or an acolyte, you are “non-reputable” for all “reputable scientists believe” that “there is no debate.”) As proof of the position take by “reputable scientists” a slide was put on the screen as the speaker said a study was done of articles in peer reviewed journals (none of which were named) and it was found that every one—EVERY ONE—of the 928 articles studied supported Anthropomorphic Climate Change (aka Global Warming As Caused by Man). Zero percent of the articles looked at thought otherwise. Remarkable! Meanwhile, in “popular journals,” 58% of the 636 articles studied were critical of ACC. Again no names of the “popular” publications were provided. You want to talk about cherry-picking your data! Unbelievable, but there were members of the audience who ate it up! You see, those “popular” articles were by people/groups funded by…wait for it…EXXON! *groan*
Now, for the big finish.
The speaker went on to what we can do to prevent all this death and destruction that lies on our very doorstep. First though she assured us that we have the ability and technology in the developed nations to fend off this scourge. All that is lacking, she said, is the political will. Yes, it will cost money, but we have plenty of it. Look at what happened with hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. It would have cost $14 Billion to rebuild the dikes prior to Katrina, she said. Instead we’re spending $200 Billion to rebuild the city. (Hey, if the water’s going to rise 6-7 meters, maybe we shouldn’t be doing that! And she showed a map of the US with every county in which a Katrina refugee (her word) relocated shaded in gray. It was almost all gray, of course as there was no indication of how many ‘refugees” went to each county. But that’s not important. We can’t, she said, relocate all those folks from low lying coastal areas.)
Back to the money. We have plenty, she said. Just look at the Iraq War and its daily cost. (Of course! Got to get something in here that is anti-war no matter how subtle!)
Okay, what can we do to stop the warming?
The temperature increase must be kept below 2 degrees Celsius. To do that we need to reduce our output of CO2 and other Green House Gases globally by 50% by 2050 and in industrial nations they must be reduced by 90% over the same time frame. (No indication of what this will mean to our life styles at all.) Changes must be made in the way we live at home, in our schools, our churches, our communities, the state, the world.
We must call or government representatives and insist they get on the ball to combat this most important threat.
We need to insulate our homes and make them more energy efficient. Our means of transportation must also be more efficient users of energy and must eventually move away from green house gas emissions as much as possible. Industry too must become more efficient in its use of fuels and reduce its emissions drastically. A pie chart showing our source of energy in PA was flashed on the screen.(Did you know we were one of the worst polluting states in the union? Only Texas and California produce more GHGs. Who’d have thunk it?) Coal is the major source of energy and of CO2. “No new coal fired plants should be built without CO2 sequestration.” (Since the Supreme Court has ruled the EPA can/must regulate CO2 and other green house gases as air pollutants despite being a natural component of the atmosphere, I don’t think that’s a problem anymore.) We must learn to use renewable energy such as hydro, wind and solar just as many towns in Europe are already 100% renewable. Of course, there was no mention of the use of nuclear power. (35% of Pennsylvania’s power comes from nuclear plants.)
You really can’t argue with many of the ideas for conserving energy and reducing pollution, and I think that’s the goal. Since that part of the program sounds so reasonable, everything else must also be reasonable including the call for $50 Billion from each nation per year, to combat climate change. (Of course, the poorer nations can’t possibly afford to do that so the money will have to come from…anyone? Buehler? Yep, the developed “rich” nations.)
Finally, the speaker closed with one of her favorite quotes about how you can’t achieve anything if you don’t try, but even in merely trying you’ve achieved a great deal…or something like that. I was total unfocused as to what it said when I saw who said it: Noam Chomsky. Afterward I thought, “How fitting.”
[As a side note, it was raining when I started typing this up this morning and the temperature was just around 35 degrees at the Aerie. It’s still around 35 degree at 9:30 AM but it’s snowing to beat the band outside and accumulating quite nicely. The weather gurus still insist it isn’t snowing when I check the weather.com site or the TV.]
We’ve got weather, lots of weather
Last Friday, before I headed north to the Bolt Hole and while the gutters guys were working on the installation of our beeee-u-t-full new gutters, it was drizzling with a few spritzes of snow showers mixed in. It continued after dark and amounted to a little over 0.1 inches of precipitation.
Monday evening, Terry reports that we had nearly 0.2 inches of rain. (It rained up north too. I could hear it coming down as I was making the final cuts on the chunks of red meat, turning some into steaks but mostly trimming the pieces in to stew meat, in the kitchen of the Bolt Hole.)
Yesterday it was mizzling most of the day but last night it started to rain in earnest. From dark until dawn we have had a steady, light rain with occasional heaver showers. It’s supposed to continue through the day growing gradually lighter in intensity and colder as well. It may change this evening to light snow showers that will finally end Friday morning. Mix in the much shorter daylight hours as we continue to slide toward the Winter Solstice and you’ve got one very depressing situation.
UPDATE: Oh, poop! It's snowing to beat the band. nearly whiteout conditions in the yard as huge wet flakes are falling. And we're supposed to drive over to Beaver Mountain in Deposit, NY this morning.
Monday evening, Terry reports that we had nearly 0.2 inches of rain. (It rained up north too. I could hear it coming down as I was making the final cuts on the chunks of red meat, turning some into steaks but mostly trimming the pieces in to stew meat, in the kitchen of the Bolt Hole.)
Yesterday it was mizzling most of the day but last night it started to rain in earnest. From dark until dawn we have had a steady, light rain with occasional heaver showers. It’s supposed to continue through the day growing gradually lighter in intensity and colder as well. It may change this evening to light snow showers that will finally end Friday morning. Mix in the much shorter daylight hours as we continue to slide toward the Winter Solstice and you’ve got one very depressing situation.
UPDATE: Oh, poop! It's snowing to beat the band. nearly whiteout conditions in the yard as huge wet flakes are falling. And we're supposed to drive over to Beaver Mountain in Deposit, NY this morning.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tamarack
One of the interesting trees on the slopes around the Aerie is the Tamarack. This is a deciduous conifer that turns a beautiful golden brown in the fall before the needles all fall off. Here are a few small ones growing alongside the driveway.
One of the Jersey guys who hunts from a camp up the hill called them “mutant pines.” And this from a guy who lives and works in the Pine Barrens of NJ where the pitch pines NEED fire to open their cones and send out needles from the trunk a week or two after the embers die.
(The wind was blowing pretty good when I took this and several other pictures trying to capture the golden glow of the tamarack needles. Doesn’t do it justice. Only a full tree would but I’m too lazy today to go for a hike.
One of the Jersey guys who hunts from a camp up the hill called them “mutant pines.” And this from a guy who lives and works in the Pine Barrens of NJ where the pitch pines NEED fire to open their cones and send out needles from the trunk a week or two after the embers die.
(The wind was blowing pretty good when I took this and several other pictures trying to capture the golden glow of the tamarack needles. Doesn’t do it justice. Only a full tree would but I’m too lazy today to go for a hike.
Log Home Update: Part 62:
Hey, we've got gutters!
While I was up north pursuing white-tails, the gutter guys were finishing their installation of the gutters and down spouts at the Aerie. I’ve got lots of pictures to share so let’s start with the entrance area:
It will finally be possible to enter the front door without taking a cold, cold shower as the gutters will take the water and channel it to the ground.
This section over the garage shows how well the color blends in with the roof. I may have to do something about the flow from the downspout if it starts to erode the driveway, however.
Keeping runoff from the fill behind the retaining wall was a priority. The gutter guys solved this with a couple of simple bends and long runs of downspout.
Our main concern on the west side of the house was to get the water from the dormer to the ground without it dripping on the main roof extending out from the side of the house. As a result we only had gutter installed along the top of the dormer. To get the water down to the ground, the gutter guys did a little magic with the downspout as then “bent” it around the lower roof as seen here:
Where the two roofs meet (main house and garage ell) water could really come gushing down the valleys. The gutter guys installed these shields to ensure the water goes into the gutters and not beyond. I hope they can stand up to the snow.
They did a real nice job of tucking the downspouts in behind the log ends and making them look like trim work.
“Gutter Guys” are The Gutter Pros out of Sayre, PA.
It will finally be possible to enter the front door without taking a cold, cold shower as the gutters will take the water and channel it to the ground.
This section over the garage shows how well the color blends in with the roof. I may have to do something about the flow from the downspout if it starts to erode the driveway, however.
Keeping runoff from the fill behind the retaining wall was a priority. The gutter guys solved this with a couple of simple bends and long runs of downspout.
Our main concern on the west side of the house was to get the water from the dormer to the ground without it dripping on the main roof extending out from the side of the house. As a result we only had gutter installed along the top of the dormer. To get the water down to the ground, the gutter guys did a little magic with the downspout as then “bent” it around the lower roof as seen here:
Where the two roofs meet (main house and garage ell) water could really come gushing down the valleys. The gutter guys installed these shields to ensure the water goes into the gutters and not beyond. I hope they can stand up to the snow.
They did a real nice job of tucking the downspouts in behind the log ends and making them look like trim work.
“Gutter Guys” are The Gutter Pros out of Sayre, PA.
Tonight could get interesting.
I’m going to have to be a good boy tonight. I promised the wife I would. You see, we’re going to the annual Tiadaghton Audubon Society dinner and they’ve invited a Visiting Fellow from Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology to speak on “Birds and Global Climate Change.” This person is touted as:
If she sticks to birds and climate change I might be able to keep myself under control—barely. If she starts spouting too much of the Goracle’s Anthropomorphic Global Warming, I’m going to lose it.
I already know where several members of the TAS stand (about as far left in the preservationists queue as you can get!). I probably have as much education in the Environmental Sciences as any of them (BS from Rutgers’ College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, MS in Environmental Science/Ecology from Seton Hall University plus numerous courses in Earth Science, Geology and Meteorology. Having taught Earth Science and Environmental Science in high school for many years before turning to computer instruction, I feel I’ve got a pretty good background to comment on what I see as a vast, hyperactive case of scare mongering. And I have a nasty habit of not biting my tongue. I’ll try to be polite.
UPDATE: Funny you should say that Guy. Here’s a fella from NJ who thinks we on the right are a bit too polite. Tom at Radio Free NJ writes Wanna Save America? Go Ridicule Someone!
“one of four Cornellians personally trained by Al Gore to give at least 10 presentations within a year of his Inconvenient Truth slide show. The training sessions, dubbed The Climate Project, were held in Nashville, Tenn., for an assorted group that included teachers and workers in industry, local and federal government.
In April 2007, [she] participated in the Climate project, a two-and-a-half-day workshop led by Al Gore. Over the course of several months, Gore trained 1,000 people (175 at a time) to give presentations that educate the public about global warming and the dangers of climate change.”
If she sticks to birds and climate change I might be able to keep myself under control—barely. If she starts spouting too much of the Goracle’s Anthropomorphic Global Warming, I’m going to lose it.
I already know where several members of the TAS stand (about as far left in the preservationists queue as you can get!). I probably have as much education in the Environmental Sciences as any of them (BS from Rutgers’ College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, MS in Environmental Science/Ecology from Seton Hall University plus numerous courses in Earth Science, Geology and Meteorology. Having taught Earth Science and Environmental Science in high school for many years before turning to computer instruction, I feel I’ve got a pretty good background to comment on what I see as a vast, hyperactive case of scare mongering. And I have a nasty habit of not biting my tongue. I’ll try to be polite.
UPDATE: Funny you should say that Guy. Here’s a fella from NJ who thinks we on the right are a bit too polite. Tom at Radio Free NJ writes Wanna Save America? Go Ridicule Someone!
Week 11 Poll Positions and
Opponents for Week 12
I’ve been a bit busy since Sunday due to the unexpected appearance of Mr. Deer but I’ve got some time today to discuss the College Football polls and what Week 12 has in store.
As with last week, I’ll be using the AP Writers’/the Coaches’/ and the BCS polls in that order. NR means a team doesn’t show in the Top 25.
#1/1/1 LSU (9-1, 5-1) travels to Mississippi (3-7, 0-6) for what looks like an easy game. But then we said that about Michigan vs Appalachian State in week 1. The difference may be that Appalachian State can play this game. Mississippi…heh, maybe not so much.
#2/2/2 Oregon (8-1, 5-1) Fresh off a big win over Arizona State, the Ducks are on the road against Arizona (4-6, 3-4) Thursday night. It will be live on ESPN and Dennis Dixon and crew should be fun to watch.
#3/3/4 Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1) The Sooners are on the road against Texas Tech (7-4, 3-4) as they look for a season sweep against the Lone Star state. They have already taken down North Texas, Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor.
#4/4/3 Kansas (10-0, 6-0) The Jayhawks are one of two remaining undefeated teams. (Hawaii is the other.) Still, they’ve just started to get some respect. This week they host Iowa State (3-8, 2-5). Hopefully, they won’t be looking ahead to Missouri.
#5/5/6 West Virginia (8-1, 3-1) The Mountaineers go on the road to play #21/25/22 Cincinnati (8-1, 3-2) in an important BIG EAST matchup.
#6/6/5 Missouri (9-1, 5-1) The Tigers travel to Kansas State (5-5, 3-4) as they hope to keep pace with Kansas in the Big 12 North race.
#7/7/7 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) The Buckeyes travel to Ann Arbor to play Michigan (8-3,
6-1) in a game that once had the potential for a National Championship but now is all for a berth in the Rose Bowl.
#8/9/9 Georgia (8-2, 5-2) The Bulldogs host Kentucky (7-3, 3-3) in a game they must win to stay ahead of Tennessee atop the SEC East.
#9/8/8 Arizona State (9-1, 6-1) The Sun Devils are idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #11/13/11 USC.
#10/10/10 Virginia Tech (8-2, 5-1) The Hokies host Miami (Fla.) (5-5, 2-4). A win here and they will be tied with Virginia for the ACC Coastal Division with a match between the two scheduled for November 24. Despite Miami’s woes this year they could still sting you. But I don’t see it happening in Blacksburg.
#11/13/11 Southern California (8-2, 5-2) The Trojans are idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #9/8/8 Arizona State.
#12/11/13 Texas (9-2, 5-2) The Longhorns have beaten just about everyone else in the state (TCU, Rice, Baylor, Texas Tech), now they travel to play Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4).
#13/12/16 Hawaii (9-0, 6-0) The Warriors are the other undefeated team; the Rodney Dangerfields of collegiate football. Few have even seen them play because their home games don’t start until after midnight on the east coast. QB Colt Brennan must be a joy to watch. (Lets hope he’s recovered from last week’s hard hit that knocked him out of the game...literally.) But, let’s face it, after watching college football from noon on, by the time that fifth game arrives at 12:05 AM Sunday morning, you’ve about had it. This week, however, they are back on the mainland to play Nevada (5-4, 3-2) on Friday night…at 11:00 PM Eastern. Ouch!
#14/14/12 Florida (7-3, 5-3) The Gators host the Florida Atlantic Owls (5-4, 4-1) at the Swamp this week.
#15/16/15 Clemson (8-2, 5-2) The Tigers host the Boston College Eagles (8-2, 4-2) in a battle for first place in the ACC Atlantic Division. If Clemson wins, they’re in. If they lose, they still have a shot if BC drops its final game to Miami (Fla.).
#16/17/14 Virginia (9-2, 6-1) Idle this week, the Cavaliers can take the ACC Coastal Division by defeating Virginia Tech on November 24.
#17/15/18 Boise State (9-1, 6-0) The Broncos need a win this week to keep pace with Hawaii atop the WAC. Lucky for them they are playing at home on that Smurf Turf. And it’s against Idaho (1-9, 0-6). (Surprisingly, the Vandals are not the worst team in the WAC. That honor goes to Utah State is 0-10.) The Broncos final game is for all the marbles at Hawaii on Nov. 23.
#18/18/17 Boston College (8-2, 4-2) To go from undefeated to two loses and must win games in just two weeks..tsk, tsk. That’s what the Eagles have done though. If they lose this week at Clemson (8-2, 5-2) they cannot win the ACC Atlantic Division and will, possibly fall from the Top 25 in all the polls.
#19/19/20 Tennessee (7-3, 4-2) The Volunteers host Vanderbilt (5-5, 2-5) this week and need the win to have any chance to overtake Georgia in the SEC East.
#20/21/19 Illinois (8-3, 5-2) The Fighting Illini come off their big upset of #1 Ohio State to finish their season playing Northwestern (6-5, 3-4) at home.
#21/25/22 Cincinnati (8-2, 3-2) The Bearcats host #5/5/6 West Virginia (8-1, 3-1)Thursday night on ESPN. Thursday’s have been big upset nights this year. Could happen again. DOH! Either I can't read the calendar or they rescheduled this game for Saturday night while I wasn't looking. Nobody tells me anything!
#22/20/23 Kentucky (7-3, 3-3) The Wildcats are at #8/9/9 Georgia (8-2, 5-2) this week.
#23/23/21 Michigan (8-3, 6-1) The Wolverines were #1 in the preseason polls. But injuries, sloppy play and inspired opponents (hello Appalachian State!) have taken their toll. Still, they host #7/7/7 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) (another “victim”) in a game on Saturday for the Big Ten Championship. Winner goes to the Rose Bowl.
#24/24/25 Wisconsin (8-3, 4-3) After their upset of Michigan last week the Badgers have climbed back into the Top 25. This Saturday they head to Minnesota (1-10, 0-7) to end their season. Be merciful.
#25/NR/24 Connecticut (8-2, 4-1) The Huskies lost big last week to Cincinnati. They get a chance to get healthy this week at home against Syracuse (2-8, 1-4). A UConn win (coupled with a WVU win over Cincinnati) sets up a BIG EAST “title game” in Morgantown on the 24th.
As with last week, I’ll be using the AP Writers’/the Coaches’/ and the BCS polls in that order. NR means a team doesn’t show in the Top 25.
#1/1/1 LSU (9-1, 5-1) travels to Mississippi (3-7, 0-6) for what looks like an easy game. But then we said that about Michigan vs Appalachian State in week 1. The difference may be that Appalachian State can play this game. Mississippi…heh, maybe not so much.
#2/2/2 Oregon (8-1, 5-1) Fresh off a big win over Arizona State, the Ducks are on the road against Arizona (4-6, 3-4) Thursday night. It will be live on ESPN and Dennis Dixon and crew should be fun to watch.
#3/3/4 Oklahoma (9-1, 5-1) The Sooners are on the road against Texas Tech (7-4, 3-4) as they look for a season sweep against the Lone Star state. They have already taken down North Texas, Texas, Texas A&M, and Baylor.
#4/4/3 Kansas (10-0, 6-0) The Jayhawks are one of two remaining undefeated teams. (Hawaii is the other.) Still, they’ve just started to get some respect. This week they host Iowa State (3-8, 2-5). Hopefully, they won’t be looking ahead to Missouri.
#5/5/6 West Virginia (8-1, 3-1) The Mountaineers go on the road to play #21/25/22 Cincinnati (8-1, 3-2) in an important BIG EAST matchup.
#6/6/5 Missouri (9-1, 5-1) The Tigers travel to Kansas State (5-5, 3-4) as they hope to keep pace with Kansas in the Big 12 North race.
#7/7/7 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) The Buckeyes travel to Ann Arbor to play Michigan (8-3,
6-1) in a game that once had the potential for a National Championship but now is all for a berth in the Rose Bowl.
#8/9/9 Georgia (8-2, 5-2) The Bulldogs host Kentucky (7-3, 3-3) in a game they must win to stay ahead of Tennessee atop the SEC East.
#9/8/8 Arizona State (9-1, 6-1) The Sun Devils are idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #11/13/11 USC.
#10/10/10 Virginia Tech (8-2, 5-1) The Hokies host Miami (Fla.) (5-5, 2-4). A win here and they will be tied with Virginia for the ACC Coastal Division with a match between the two scheduled for November 24. Despite Miami’s woes this year they could still sting you. But I don’t see it happening in Blacksburg.
#11/13/11 Southern California (8-2, 5-2) The Trojans are idle this week. Next up on Thanksgiving Day: #9/8/8 Arizona State.
#12/11/13 Texas (9-2, 5-2) The Longhorns have beaten just about everyone else in the state (TCU, Rice, Baylor, Texas Tech), now they travel to play Texas A&M (6-5, 3-4).
#13/12/16 Hawaii (9-0, 6-0) The Warriors are the other undefeated team; the Rodney Dangerfields of collegiate football. Few have even seen them play because their home games don’t start until after midnight on the east coast. QB Colt Brennan must be a joy to watch. (Lets hope he’s recovered from last week’s hard hit that knocked him out of the game...literally.) But, let’s face it, after watching college football from noon on, by the time that fifth game arrives at 12:05 AM Sunday morning, you’ve about had it. This week, however, they are back on the mainland to play Nevada (5-4, 3-2) on Friday night…at 11:00 PM Eastern. Ouch!
#14/14/12 Florida (7-3, 5-3) The Gators host the Florida Atlantic Owls (5-4, 4-1) at the Swamp this week.
#15/16/15 Clemson (8-2, 5-2) The Tigers host the Boston College Eagles (8-2, 4-2) in a battle for first place in the ACC Atlantic Division. If Clemson wins, they’re in. If they lose, they still have a shot if BC drops its final game to Miami (Fla.).
#16/17/14 Virginia (9-2, 6-1) Idle this week, the Cavaliers can take the ACC Coastal Division by defeating Virginia Tech on November 24.
#17/15/18 Boise State (9-1, 6-0) The Broncos need a win this week to keep pace with Hawaii atop the WAC. Lucky for them they are playing at home on that Smurf Turf. And it’s against Idaho (1-9, 0-6). (Surprisingly, the Vandals are not the worst team in the WAC. That honor goes to Utah State is 0-10.) The Broncos final game is for all the marbles at Hawaii on Nov. 23.
#18/18/17 Boston College (8-2, 4-2) To go from undefeated to two loses and must win games in just two weeks..tsk, tsk. That’s what the Eagles have done though. If they lose this week at Clemson (8-2, 5-2) they cannot win the ACC Atlantic Division and will, possibly fall from the Top 25 in all the polls.
#19/19/20 Tennessee (7-3, 4-2) The Volunteers host Vanderbilt (5-5, 2-5) this week and need the win to have any chance to overtake Georgia in the SEC East.
#20/21/19 Illinois (8-3, 5-2) The Fighting Illini come off their big upset of #1 Ohio State to finish their season playing Northwestern (6-5, 3-4) at home.
#21/25/22 Cincinnati (8-2, 3-2) The Bearcats host #5/5/6 West Virginia (8-1, 3-1)
#22/20/23 Kentucky (7-3, 3-3) The Wildcats are at #8/9/9 Georgia (8-2, 5-2) this week.
#23/23/21 Michigan (8-3, 6-1) The Wolverines were #1 in the preseason polls. But injuries, sloppy play and inspired opponents (hello Appalachian State!) have taken their toll. Still, they host #7/7/7 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) (another “victim”) in a game on Saturday for the Big Ten Championship. Winner goes to the Rose Bowl.
#24/24/25 Wisconsin (8-3, 4-3) After their upset of Michigan last week the Badgers have climbed back into the Top 25. This Saturday they head to Minnesota (1-10, 0-7) to end their season. Be merciful.
#25/NR/24 Connecticut (8-2, 4-1) The Huskies lost big last week to Cincinnati. They get a chance to get healthy this week at home against Syracuse (2-8, 1-4). A UConn win (coupled with a WVU win over Cincinnati) sets up a BIG EAST “title game” in Morgantown on the 24th.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Theo Spark: Fox Hunting!!!!!!!
Starting to catch up on my surfing when I came across this little photo:
Theo Spark: Fox Hunting!!!!!!!
Theo Spark: Fox Hunting!!!!!!!
"Do You Remember?"
This is a great, great little video that you really should watch.
I find the creator's need to cut off comments because of people who made nasty or even hate-filled comments about the video appalling.
(h/t Theo Spark)
I find the creator's need to cut off comments because of people who made nasty or even hate-filled comments about the video appalling.
(h/t Theo Spark)
Da-dum....da-dum..
Should you visit south Florida, it might be a good idea to confine you swimming to the hotel's indoor pool or the ocean.
Seems thereis was a thief in Miami who forgot that rule.
Seems there
The Obligatory Dead Deer Pic
As I mentioned yesterday, I finally found a white-tail buck careless enough to appear during the day here at the Bolt Hole.
It's a 4-pointer although you can't tell from this picture. He ran smack dab into a six inch hemlock tree as he bolted after being shot. Pure adrenaline. The shot took him through the scapula of one foreleg and through the lungs. He dropped 40 yards from where he stood when the 130-grain .270 hit him.
The butchering of the deer was the most difficult part of the day. I take the sculptor's approach to butchering. I start with a whole deer and carve away everything that is not edible. Except for the filet and tenderloins--the two cuts even I can identify, I bone the rest of the muscles out and then decide if it looks like a roast, can be cut into a steak, or if it should be chunked up for stew meat or to be ground in to chop meat. When I'm done I've got 50-60 pounds of meat and no bones to occupy freezer space.
It's a 4-pointer although you can't tell from this picture. He ran smack dab into a six inch hemlock tree as he bolted after being shot. Pure adrenaline. The shot took him through the scapula of one foreleg and through the lungs. He dropped 40 yards from where he stood when the 130-grain .270 hit him.
The butchering of the deer was the most difficult part of the day. I take the sculptor's approach to butchering. I start with a whole deer and carve away everything that is not edible. Except for the filet and tenderloins--the two cuts even I can identify, I bone the rest of the muscles out and then decide if it looks like a roast, can be cut into a steak, or if it should be chunked up for stew meat or to be ground in to chop meat. When I'm done I've got 50-60 pounds of meat and no bones to occupy freezer space.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Success!
I had planned to pack up the Bolt Hole and head back to the Aerie this afternoon but that will have to be postponed.
Before leaving I thought I would take one more slow walk with my friend the .270 and see if we could find one of the elusive white-tails.
First I went over and walked behind Mark's place because the wind was blowing in the right direction but, while the crunchy snow and leaves made the walk a bit noise for me and the deer didn't cooperate. I didn't see or hear any of them.
Then I started to walk the edge of the field on my side where some grass has been exposed and the wild honeysuckle still has leaves the deer apparently like to nibble. (Many sets of tracks we saw Saturday and Sunday detoured over to the shrub-like growths to nip at the leaves. They were also chomping on the apple buds and gnawing the tips of many of the small tree's branches.) I had barely started my walk when I spied a large brown body grazing some grasses about 75 yards ahead of me. I was standing in a patch of bare grass and my feet made no sound ass I adjusted my position and raised the rifle to my shoulder. Through the scope I could clearly see that the deer had antlers but it was not one of the big bucks we had seen earlier in the year. It took two steps toward me as it continued to graze and turned broadside. Setting the cross hairs of the scope on the shoulder I clicked off the safety and pulled the trigger.
The deer was hit! It turned and bound away through a thicket and I heard it crash into a small hemlock and then silence. I waited a few minutes and walked to where it was standing when I shot. There was blood scattered all over the snow behind where it was standing and all along the path of its "escape" route. Less than forty yards from where I had shot it, it was laying dead on the ground. I noticed it had broken off one of its antlers in its dash through the trees but I was able to find it and confirm that this deer had been a four pointer having two points on each side.
Now came the difficult part. Luckily it wasn't too far from one of the several ATV trails so I went back to the garage and got my machine. Gutting the deer took about 30 minutes and then I loaded it onto the back of the ATV and hauled it back to the barn where it is now hanging. This afternoon I'll rig up a table and start the butchering process.
This is only the second deer I've seen since hunting season began. The other fell to an arrow back in October. Neither was vary large, the first had spikes and this was a fork horn, but like I've said, "You can't eat the horns."
Suddenly my feet don't hurt as much as they did when I woke up.
Before leaving I thought I would take one more slow walk with my friend the .270 and see if we could find one of the elusive white-tails.
First I went over and walked behind Mark's place because the wind was blowing in the right direction but, while the crunchy snow and leaves made the walk a bit noise for me and the deer didn't cooperate. I didn't see or hear any of them.
Then I started to walk the edge of the field on my side where some grass has been exposed and the wild honeysuckle still has leaves the deer apparently like to nibble. (Many sets of tracks we saw Saturday and Sunday detoured over to the shrub-like growths to nip at the leaves. They were also chomping on the apple buds and gnawing the tips of many of the small tree's branches.) I had barely started my walk when I spied a large brown body grazing some grasses about 75 yards ahead of me. I was standing in a patch of bare grass and my feet made no sound ass I adjusted my position and raised the rifle to my shoulder. Through the scope I could clearly see that the deer had antlers but it was not one of the big bucks we had seen earlier in the year. It took two steps toward me as it continued to graze and turned broadside. Setting the cross hairs of the scope on the shoulder I clicked off the safety and pulled the trigger.
The deer was hit! It turned and bound away through a thicket and I heard it crash into a small hemlock and then silence. I waited a few minutes and walked to where it was standing when I shot. There was blood scattered all over the snow behind where it was standing and all along the path of its "escape" route. Less than forty yards from where I had shot it, it was laying dead on the ground. I noticed it had broken off one of its antlers in its dash through the trees but I was able to find it and confirm that this deer had been a four pointer having two points on each side.
Now came the difficult part. Luckily it wasn't too far from one of the several ATV trails so I went back to the garage and got my machine. Gutting the deer took about 30 minutes and then I loaded it onto the back of the ATV and hauled it back to the barn where it is now hanging. This afternoon I'll rig up a table and start the butchering process.
This is only the second deer I've seen since hunting season began. The other fell to an arrow back in October. Neither was vary large, the first had spikes and this was a fork horn, but like I've said, "You can't eat the horns."
Suddenly my feet don't hurt as much as they did when I woke up.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Deer Hunting
So, why am I blogging about football when I'm in the north country to hunt deer?
When I left headed to the Bolt Hole it was to take advantage of the fresh snow on the ground to locate another buck. I wasn't disappointed by the snow. It was still on the ground and remains there even though we have had some clear, sunny days. Temperatures in the low thirties during the day and as low as 15 at daybreak will do that. Unfortunately, those really cold mornings made walking in the woods like treading on cornflakes. Every step produced a crunch that you would swear could be heard 10 miles away.
As for fresh tracks, yeah there are some of those. There are also lots of tracks from Wednesday's snowfall and there really hasn't been any fresh flurries to help delineate the old from the new.
Mark and I have been working as a team--although he has been doing most of the work. He says he likes going into what he calls "Rambo mode" and traipsing through the woods. So I've been picking a spot that offers some viewing in a particular area and he has gone walking with the intention of trying to spook a deer my way or, if he can get close enough, get a shot off himself. The results have been a little disheartening. While he has spooked up some deer, they have either been too far away for him to get a shot (blame the crunching snow), in thick hemlock groves where he had limited sight lines, or heading in a direction away from me as well. Sometimes all three have occurred on the same walk.
Me? I haven't seen any of the deer he keeps telling me via radio that he has kicked up. (Actually, there weren't that many.) Personally, I think he's hired an army of little people walking on stilts that have cloven hooves on the end to make the tracks we've seen in the snow. That or the Jersey Devil has relocated north. Hey, it could happen. Lots of people are leaving New Jersey.
I guess that's why they call it "hunting" and not "killing".
Despite my limited walking (compared to Mark) my feet are killing me. I don't know if it's bone bruises, spurs or plantar fascia but something is really hurting in both of my heels and gel pads and inserts aren't helping any. If I wake up tomorrow feeling as badly as I do now, I'll be out of here by noon. Which might not be a bad thing anyway since the weather wizards are predicting some freezing rain for tomorrow night.
When I left headed to the Bolt Hole it was to take advantage of the fresh snow on the ground to locate another buck. I wasn't disappointed by the snow. It was still on the ground and remains there even though we have had some clear, sunny days. Temperatures in the low thirties during the day and as low as 15 at daybreak will do that. Unfortunately, those really cold mornings made walking in the woods like treading on cornflakes. Every step produced a crunch that you would swear could be heard 10 miles away.
As for fresh tracks, yeah there are some of those. There are also lots of tracks from Wednesday's snowfall and there really hasn't been any fresh flurries to help delineate the old from the new.
Mark and I have been working as a team--although he has been doing most of the work. He says he likes going into what he calls "Rambo mode" and traipsing through the woods. So I've been picking a spot that offers some viewing in a particular area and he has gone walking with the intention of trying to spook a deer my way or, if he can get close enough, get a shot off himself. The results have been a little disheartening. While he has spooked up some deer, they have either been too far away for him to get a shot (blame the crunching snow), in thick hemlock groves where he had limited sight lines, or heading in a direction away from me as well. Sometimes all three have occurred on the same walk.
Me? I haven't seen any of the deer he keeps telling me via radio that he has kicked up. (Actually, there weren't that many.) Personally, I think he's hired an army of little people walking on stilts that have cloven hooves on the end to make the tracks we've seen in the snow. That or the Jersey Devil has relocated north. Hey, it could happen. Lots of people are leaving New Jersey.
I guess that's why they call it "hunting" and not "killing".
Despite my limited walking (compared to Mark) my feet are killing me. I don't know if it's bone bruises, spurs or plantar fascia but something is really hurting in both of my heels and gel pads and inserts aren't helping any. If I wake up tomorrow feeling as badly as I do now, I'll be out of here by noon. Which might not be a bad thing anyway since the weather wizards are predicting some freezing rain for tomorrow night.
About the BIG EAST
Things got a whole lot tighter at the top of the BIG EAST this week..
UConn fell to Cincinnati 27-3 ending their perfect mark in the conference.
West Virginia beat Louisville 38-31.
South Florida beat Syracuse 41-10.
Rutgers beat Army in a non-conference game, 41-6.
(Pittsburgh was idle.)
Current Conference Standings (and games remaining):
Only four of the teams have been eliminated from the possibility of garnering the BIG EAST title. One would have to say things are still favoring Connecticut, but their game against West Virginia is looking more and more like the title game—assuming WVU gets passed Cincinnati. If they don’t, the Bearcats could claim the crown if the Mountaineers go on to beat the Huskies.
UConn fell to Cincinnati 27-3 ending their perfect mark in the conference.
West Virginia beat Louisville 38-31.
South Florida beat Syracuse 41-10.
Rutgers beat Army in a non-conference game, 41-6.
(Pittsburgh was idle.)
Current Conference Standings (and games remaining):
Connecticut 4-1 (Syracuse (H), West Virginia (A))
West Virginia 3-1 (Cincinnati (A), Connecticut (H), Pittsburgh (H))
Cincinnati 3-2 (West Virginia (H), Syracuse (A))
Pittsburgh 2-2 (Rutgers (A), South Florida (H), West Virginia (A))
South Florida 2-3 (Louisville (H), Pittsburgh (A))
Rutgers 2-3 (Pittsburgh (H), Louisville (A))
Louisville 2-3 (South Florida (A), Rutgers (H))
Syracuse 1-4 (Connecticut (A), Cincinnati (H))
Only four of the teams have been eliminated from the possibility of garnering the BIG EAST title. One would have to say things are still favoring Connecticut, but their game against West Virginia is looking more and more like the title game—assuming WVU gets passed Cincinnati. If they don’t, the Bearcats could claim the crown if the Mountaineers go on to beat the Huskies.
Week 11 Results
Once again, fate has slashed the tires on the bus and the hopes and dreams of a National Championship have crashed. Five Top 25 teams lost to unranked opponents this week which means there will be some more reshuffling of the pack—again.
Ranks given are for the AP Writers’/Coaches’/BCS polls.
1/1/1 Ohio State had their perfect season wiped away by upstart and unranked Illinois , 28-21. If you take the nations #1 defense and match it against a pretty good but not great running offense you’d expect the defense to stop the run. The OSU defense sort of did that but what they forgot to do was to stop the passing game of Juice Williams and the Fighting Illini. (Meanwhile, the OSU offense forgot to hang on to the ball. But that’s a different story.) Illinois controlled the ball for nearly the entire second half and kept the Ohio State offense off the field. There aren’t too many ways to score if you don’t have the ball.
2/2/2/ LSU (playing after the OSU loss) had something to prove in beating up on Louisiana Tech 58-10. (Mostly, they want to prove that they are better than Oregon.)
3/3/3 Speaking of Oregon, they didn’t play this week but still stand a chance of seeing themselves as #1 or #2 in most polls.
4/4/5 Oklahoma also played on Saturday night and would like to see themselves moved into that 1/2 slot. To help the pollsters, they beat up on Baylor 52-21.
5/5/4 Kansas put their unbeaten record on the line and made a bid for the top with a 43-28 victory over Oklahoma State.
6/6/7 West Virginia played Louisville on Thursday and managed to escape with a 38-31 victory that will keep their dreams alive of a National Title game as well as a BIG EAST Championship.
7/3/6 Missouri took care of business against Texas A&M 40-26 setting up an excellent match-up against Kansas.
8/8/8 Boston College *sigh*. Maybe beating up Notre Dame wasn’t such a good thing in His eyes. BC lost o unranked Maryland 42-35.
9/9/9 Arizona State managed to eke out a victory over UCLA, 24-20 despite some sloppy play at the end. Luckily for the Sun Devils the Bruins played just a little bit sloppier.
10/10/10 Georgia whipped 18/17/18 Auburn 45-20.
11/11/11 Virginia Tech beat up on Florida State 40-21.
1215/17 USC managed to get passed 24/NR/27 California 24-17.
13/13/12 Michigan, depleted by injuries, got whomped by Wisconsin 37-21.
14/12/16 Hawaii continues undefeated, but because they are in the WAC have no chance to be in the Title game. They may not even make a BCS Bowl game. This week they stumbled passed Fresno State 37-30.
15/14/14 Texas allowed Texas Tech to score 43 points. Luckily for the Longhorns, they scored 59 on the way to a 59-43 victory.
Now, 59 points is a lot of points but Texas wasn’t even the highest scoring major college Texas team this weekend. That honor belonged to North Texas. They scored 62 points—and lost to Navy 74-62 in a wild and wooly game. Navy rushed for 572 yards and 8 touchdowns. (That thought probably scares the hell out of Army!) Still, Navy trailed at the end of the first quarter 21-10 as North Texas’ freshman quarterback, Giovanni Vizza, limbered up his arm on the way to throwing 8 touchdown passes. Navy came back to “win” the 2nd quarter 35-28 and was only trailing 49-45 at half time. Navy “won” the 3rd quarter 20-7 to take a 65-56 lead into the final period. The Middies “won” the 4th quarter in what had become a war of attrition (or maybe exhaustion) 9-6 for a final score of 74-62.
16/16/13 Connecticut found the rarefied air in the Top 20 difficult to breath as the Huskies fell to unranked Cincinnati 27-3. The outcome of this game throws the BIG EAST into a tizzy. (More about that later.)
17/18/15 Florida rolled ver South Carolina 51-31.
18/17/18 Auburn lost to 10/10/10 Georgia 45-20.
19/19/20 Boise State ran rough shod over Utah State 52-0.
20/20/21 Clemson beat up on Wake Forest 44-10.
21/23/22 Alabama was upset by unranked Mississippi State 17-12.
22/22/24 Tennessee defeated Arkansas 34-13.
23/21/19 Virginia embarrassed Miami (Fla.) in their final game in the Orange Bowl, 48-0.
24/NR/27 California lost to 12/15/17 Southern California 24-17.
25/22/25 Kentucky beat Vanderbilt 27-20.
NR/25/23 Penn State beat up on Temple 31-0.
Ranks given are for the AP Writers’/Coaches’/BCS polls.
1/1/1 Ohio State had their perfect season wiped away by upstart and unranked Illinois , 28-21. If you take the nations #1 defense and match it against a pretty good but not great running offense you’d expect the defense to stop the run. The OSU defense sort of did that but what they forgot to do was to stop the passing game of Juice Williams and the Fighting Illini. (Meanwhile, the OSU offense forgot to hang on to the ball. But that’s a different story.) Illinois controlled the ball for nearly the entire second half and kept the Ohio State offense off the field. There aren’t too many ways to score if you don’t have the ball.
2/2/2/ LSU (playing after the OSU loss) had something to prove in beating up on Louisiana Tech 58-10. (Mostly, they want to prove that they are better than Oregon.)
3/3/3 Speaking of Oregon, they didn’t play this week but still stand a chance of seeing themselves as #1 or #2 in most polls.
4/4/5 Oklahoma also played on Saturday night and would like to see themselves moved into that 1/2 slot. To help the pollsters, they beat up on Baylor 52-21.
5/5/4 Kansas put their unbeaten record on the line and made a bid for the top with a 43-28 victory over Oklahoma State.
6/6/7 West Virginia played Louisville on Thursday and managed to escape with a 38-31 victory that will keep their dreams alive of a National Title game as well as a BIG EAST Championship.
7/3/6 Missouri took care of business against Texas A&M 40-26 setting up an excellent match-up against Kansas.
8/8/8 Boston College *sigh*. Maybe beating up Notre Dame wasn’t such a good thing in His eyes. BC lost o unranked Maryland 42-35.
9/9/9 Arizona State managed to eke out a victory over UCLA, 24-20 despite some sloppy play at the end. Luckily for the Sun Devils the Bruins played just a little bit sloppier.
10/10/10 Georgia whipped 18/17/18 Auburn 45-20.
11/11/11 Virginia Tech beat up on Florida State 40-21.
1215/17 USC managed to get passed 24/NR/27 California 24-17.
13/13/12 Michigan, depleted by injuries, got whomped by Wisconsin 37-21.
14/12/16 Hawaii continues undefeated, but because they are in the WAC have no chance to be in the Title game. They may not even make a BCS Bowl game. This week they stumbled passed Fresno State 37-30.
15/14/14 Texas allowed Texas Tech to score 43 points. Luckily for the Longhorns, they scored 59 on the way to a 59-43 victory.
Now, 59 points is a lot of points but Texas wasn’t even the highest scoring major college Texas team this weekend. That honor belonged to North Texas. They scored 62 points—and lost to Navy 74-62 in a wild and wooly game. Navy rushed for 572 yards and 8 touchdowns. (That thought probably scares the hell out of Army!) Still, Navy trailed at the end of the first quarter 21-10 as North Texas’ freshman quarterback, Giovanni Vizza, limbered up his arm on the way to throwing 8 touchdown passes. Navy came back to “win” the 2nd quarter 35-28 and was only trailing 49-45 at half time. Navy “won” the 3rd quarter 20-7 to take a 65-56 lead into the final period. The Middies “won” the 4th quarter in what had become a war of attrition (or maybe exhaustion) 9-6 for a final score of 74-62.
16/16/13 Connecticut found the rarefied air in the Top 20 difficult to breath as the Huskies fell to unranked Cincinnati 27-3. The outcome of this game throws the BIG EAST into a tizzy. (More about that later.)
17/18/15 Florida rolled ver South Carolina 51-31.
18/17/18 Auburn lost to 10/10/10 Georgia 45-20.
19/19/20 Boise State ran rough shod over Utah State 52-0.
20/20/21 Clemson beat up on Wake Forest 44-10.
21/23/22 Alabama was upset by unranked Mississippi State 17-12.
22/22/24 Tennessee defeated Arkansas 34-13.
23/21/19 Virginia embarrassed Miami (Fla.) in their final game in the Orange Bowl, 48-0.
24/NR/27 California lost to 12/15/17 Southern California 24-17.
25/22/25 Kentucky beat Vanderbilt 27-20.
NR/25/23 Penn State beat up on Temple 31-0.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
A good night for RU
The football team played at Army and despite not having Mike Teel for most of the game, they ran all over the Black Knights 41-6. Teel was pulled after an early interception returned by the Army defender some 65 yards for the only score Army got. They missed the extra point. Teel has been suffering from a sore thumb on his throwing hand; a problem that has plagued him for several games and may have contributed to RU’s two game losing streak against West Virginia and Connecticut.
But, when your throwing quarterback has a bad hand, your backup can run the ball quite well, you’ve got Ray Rice in the backfield, and you’re playing a team that is 109th in rushing defense, well, you run the ball—a lot. And that’s just what Rutgers did last night.
Rice ran the ball for a career high 243 yards on 34 carries and scored two TDs. This was the fifth time Rice has rushed for more than 200 yards in a game and his 22nd 100-yard game. Sophomore backup QB Jabu Lovelace ran the ball 23 times for 88 yards and 2 TDs and Mason Robinson ran 14 times for 82 yards. As a team, RU rushed for 404 yards. Teel was 1 for 4 for 14 yards and the interception and Lovelace 2-8 for 28 yards as the Scarlet Knights chose to run the ball on a cold, wet night. Rutgers controlled the ball for 41 minutes 56 seconds.
The victory makes Rutgers bowl eligible with a record of 6-4 with games against BIG EAST opponents Pittsburgh (H) and Louisville (A) remaining.
You can read the whole story and get the box score here.
Meanwhile, back at the RAC, the men’s basketball team made its regular season debut with a victory over Tennessee Tech by a score of 70-64.
The very young RU squad seemingly had the game under control during the first half but showed its inexperience in allowing Tech to get back in the game and even take a 5-point lead early in the second half. But, lead by Junior JR Inman (18 points) and Freshman Corey Chandler (16 points) and fifth year Senior Byran Joynes under the basket (11 rebounds) RU managed to get things back under control and emerge victorious.
Joynes missed all of last year due to injury and was making his first appearance on the court since the spring of ’06. He is the only senior on a squad that has 6 freshmen.
Junior Jaron Griffin had 11 points and 7 rebound for the Scarlet Knights.
The full story and stats here.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Up north again
I drove up to the Bolt Hole this evening in the hope of taking advantage of the small snowfall that occurred here earlier this week to locate one of the several bucks that are roaming around the area.
When I left the Aerie the weather gurus were saying that there was some flurries and possible even ice along the route I take. They were right on the flurries but the temperatures climbed above the freezing mark as I passed through Elmira and Ithaca along Route 13 and nothing was sticking to or freezing on the roads. In fact, the temperature in Ithaca was 47 degrees and it was still around 44 when I passed Syracuse. I began to worry that all the snow might have melted. I guess the large bodies of water (Cayuga Lake and Lake Ontario) near those two towns helped to moderate the temps. As I left the NY Thruway, the temps started to fall again and when I got to the Bolt Hole it was a nice 32 degrees with flurries falling at 8:30 PM and a couple of inches of snow still on the ground.
As I write (10:30 PM) the flurries are still falling. They are very, very light but still could amount to something overnight. Or at least I hope they do. Fresh snow on the ground will mean any tracks I locate will be new ones and they are far more productive to follow than something that might be a day or so old.
When I left the Aerie the weather gurus were saying that there was some flurries and possible even ice along the route I take. They were right on the flurries but the temperatures climbed above the freezing mark as I passed through Elmira and Ithaca along Route 13 and nothing was sticking to or freezing on the roads. In fact, the temperature in Ithaca was 47 degrees and it was still around 44 when I passed Syracuse. I began to worry that all the snow might have melted. I guess the large bodies of water (Cayuga Lake and Lake Ontario) near those two towns helped to moderate the temps. As I left the NY Thruway, the temps started to fall again and when I got to the Bolt Hole it was a nice 32 degrees with flurries falling at 8:30 PM and a couple of inches of snow still on the ground.
As I write (10:30 PM) the flurries are still falling. They are very, very light but still could amount to something overnight. Or at least I hope they do. Fresh snow on the ground will mean any tracks I locate will be new ones and they are far more productive to follow than something that might be a day or so old.
Chilly
Yesterday the temperature at the Aerie (elevation 2100 feet) never got above the 40 degree mark. Last night it never got below 30 degrees. As I write at 8:45 AM it is exactly 32 degrees and very overcast. The forecast is for some light snow showers late this afternoon and into the evening with accumulations in the valley approaching one inch. Right now I'd classify it as a raw, chilly, early winter's day.
Last year at this time we were busy installing insulation into the Aerie. There was also tile work being done in the bathrooms and sheet rock installation and spackling being done. I don't recall it being this cold. In fact, there was exterior work being done (chimney and stuff) right through the beginning of December.
[Although I did come across this post when I searched my archives:
Snow closes the NY State Thruway between Rochester and Buffalo
And this one:
It snewed!
Both are about areas to the north of the Aerie.]
Last year at this time we were busy installing insulation into the Aerie. There was also tile work being done in the bathrooms and sheet rock installation and spackling being done. I don't recall it being this cold. In fact, there was exterior work being done (chimney and stuff) right through the beginning of December.
[Although I did come across this post when I searched my archives:
Snow closes the NY State Thruway between Rochester and Buffalo
And this one:
It snewed!
Both are about areas to the north of the Aerie.]
Snow at the Bolt Hole
My buddy, Mark, reports a brief amount of snow in the hills around the Bolt Hole earlier this week as a cold front swept through on Wednesday. He says 3 or 4 inches of the white stuff had accumulated by early Thursday. Forecasts for the area indicate even more snow showers may fall tonight into tomorrow morning. Day time temperatures haven't been much above freezing according to a nearby weather underground station, so there's hope that the snow will be on the ground for a few more days at least
I'll be packing the truck and heading up this afternoon. Hopefully, the snow will make the location of the bucks a bit more obvious. (?)
First, we have a crew coming to the Aerie to install seamless gutters.
I'll be packing the truck and heading up this afternoon. Hopefully, the snow will make the location of the bucks a bit more obvious. (?)
First, we have a crew coming to the Aerie to install seamless gutters.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
L’Americain!
If you listen to the Democrats the whole world hates the US. I don't believe that is so and here is some evidence to back that assertion.
Don Suber on French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s speech to a joint session of the US Congress:
Sarkozy: America ‘built the greatest nation in the world’
Amen brother, amen.
I added the emphasis just in case some out there missed the message. Sarkozy said more and Surber's got it so go hit the link and read the entire thing.
Don Suber on French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s speech to a joint session of the US Congress:
Sarkozy: America ‘built the greatest nation in the world’
Wow. I just finished reading Nicolas Sarkozy’s speech to Congress.
He waved the American flag in a way that would embarrass George M. Cohan.
Seldom has an American politician as unabashedly proud of this nation’s accomplishments.
Sarkozy does not want to just be friends — he wants to emulate us.
Sarkozy singlehandedly disproved the foolish notion by the Democratic Party that Bush made the world hate us.
Remember, Sarkozy is not saying these things to be nice. He is speaking to his nation. He knew going in that every single word he said is being reported and analyzed back home.
The French are his audience.
And here is what he said: “America did not tell the millions of men and women who came from every country in the world and who — with their hands, their intelligence and their heart — built the greatest nation in the world: ‘Come, and everything will be given to you.’
“She said: ‘Come, and the only limits to what you’ll be able to achieve will be your own courage and your own talent.’ America embodies this extraordinary ability to grant each and every person a second chance.”
….
You know what I want to here next year? Some presidential candidate — either party — say the same damned thing.
Amen brother, amen.
I added the emphasis just in case some out there missed the message. Sarkozy said more and Surber's got it so go hit the link and read the entire thing.
Ooops!
Terry read in the paper that the Photography Club, meeting over at the Wellsboro Library this evening, was to have a speaker who would talk about The Wolves of Yellowstone. Having some interest in photography, Yellowstone and wolves it sounded interesting so off we went after dinner.
The meeting was supposed to start at 7 PM and we arrived ten minutes early to find a speaker already making a presentation...about woodworking. He talked about how he made pine trees out of single billets of wood, inlaid trees, birds and turtles into the backs of plank chairs and deacons' benches and the making of several other items from his shop. I found this all very interesting. Then his partner talked about her working with wool and leather to make rustic clothing for reenactors, rendezvous, and pow-wows. Yet another topic of interest to me.
Needless to say we were at the wrong club meeting! Turns out these folks were from the Wellsboro Arts Club. Talk about serendipity! I spoke with the craftsman and his lady afterwards and they invited me to their workshop. That's an invitaion I will definitely accept once the Dickens Christmas weekend is over. (He's trying to produce another hundred or so trees in the next three weeks so he can sell them--and the four hundred or so he has in stock--at that event.
The Photography Club? That meeting is on the night of November 13. So between that and the Tiadaghton Audubon Society dinner meeting on the 14th our week is pretty well planned.
The meeting was supposed to start at 7 PM and we arrived ten minutes early to find a speaker already making a presentation...about woodworking. He talked about how he made pine trees out of single billets of wood, inlaid trees, birds and turtles into the backs of plank chairs and deacons' benches and the making of several other items from his shop. I found this all very interesting. Then his partner talked about her working with wool and leather to make rustic clothing for reenactors, rendezvous, and pow-wows. Yet another topic of interest to me.
Needless to say we were at the wrong club meeting! Turns out these folks were from the Wellsboro Arts Club. Talk about serendipity! I spoke with the craftsman and his lady afterwards and they invited me to their workshop. That's an invitaion I will definitely accept once the Dickens Christmas weekend is over. (He's trying to produce another hundred or so trees in the next three weeks so he can sell them--and the four hundred or so he has in stock--at that event.
The Photography Club? That meeting is on the night of November 13. So between that and the Tiadaghton Audubon Society dinner meeting on the 14th our week is pretty well planned.
Squirrel Pot Pie, mmm-mmm Good!
Terry whipped up a pot pie made using the squirrel meat we shucked off the bones this morning and I have to say it was delicious!
Actually, the recipe came from The Church Supper Cookbook and it was for a chicken pot pie, but we agree that you could use almost any small game critter (squirrel, rabbit, grouse, duck, etc.) or leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. The sauce is what makes the difference.
Actually, the recipe came from The Church Supper Cookbook and it was for a chicken pot pie, but we agree that you could use almost any small game critter (squirrel, rabbit, grouse, duck, etc.) or leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. The sauce is what makes the difference.
Pea Soup and Squirrel Pot Pie
With the temperatures outside the Aerie hovering just above the freezing mark, Terry made a pot of split pea soup last night for dinner. We had it with cornbread muffins then and with whole wheat toast for lunch today. It’s a real stick-to-your ribs sort of meal. The “soup” is nearly as thick as some mashed potatoes you’d get in a bad diner. You could stand your spoon up in it, go get a glass of water and sit back down before the spoon even thought of moving. Definitely good eats for a cold, overcast day where the sky is spitting sleet on occasion.
Before lunch, however, we boiled up four gray squirrels that have been in the freezer for a while and pulled the meat off the bones for tonight’s pot pie dinner. Julie, the cat, got her share of the meat. She scarfed it down as fast as we could giver pieces and if we were slow on the supply side she let us know in no uncertain terms that she wanted more—NOW! Terry will use some of the stock from the boiling process to make the veggies to go into the pot pies and top the meat/veggie/gravy pour the combo into a pie shell to bake.
While eating our pea soup for lunch, I glanced outside and there were six huge gray squirrels feeding beneath the bird feeders. I guess I won’t have much trouble replacing the stock in the freezer if the pot pies come out as good as the meat smelled this morning.
Before lunch, however, we boiled up four gray squirrels that have been in the freezer for a while and pulled the meat off the bones for tonight’s pot pie dinner. Julie, the cat, got her share of the meat. She scarfed it down as fast as we could giver pieces and if we were slow on the supply side she let us know in no uncertain terms that she wanted more—NOW! Terry will use some of the stock from the boiling process to make the veggies to go into the pot pies and top the meat/veggie/gravy pour the combo into a pie shell to bake.
While eating our pea soup for lunch, I glanced outside and there were six huge gray squirrels feeding beneath the bird feeders. I guess I won’t have much trouble replacing the stock in the freezer if the pot pies come out as good as the meat smelled this morning.
Hmmmm
GM confirms massive losses
Toyota Reports Strong Profits
Could this be because I chose a Tundra over a Silverado?
Toyota Reports Strong Profits
Could this be because I chose a Tundra over a Silverado?
Sheesh!
Man with knife holds off aggressive deer
A knife would not be my first choice when hunting deer. And I don’t give a damn what Davey Crockett did when he was three. No, in deer season, when you walk away from camp, you carry your rifle (or a hand gun when legal). Especially during the rut. I won’t even walk across the Bolt Hole’s yard to the garage without my carbine. I’ve had deer stand up behind the garage during the summer while I was cutting grass or hauling fire wood out of the forest. I’m not about to pass on a chance or wrestle with a 175 pound animal armed with pointy antlers because I forgot to be prepared.
A knife would not be my first choice when hunting deer. And I don’t give a damn what Davey Crockett did when he was three. No, in deer season, when you walk away from camp, you carry your rifle (or a hand gun when legal). Especially during the rut. I won’t even walk across the Bolt Hole’s yard to the garage without my carbine. I’ve had deer stand up behind the garage during the summer while I was cutting grass or hauling fire wood out of the forest. I’m not about to pass on a chance or wrestle with a 175 pound animal armed with pointy antlers because I forgot to be prepared.
Here’s something that doesn’t happen often
How would you like to be the insurance adjuster who reads this accident report:
I blame it all on the Chick-fil-A commercials showing parachuting cows.
Charles and Linda Everson were driving back to their hotel when their minivan was struck by a falling object—a 600-pound cow.
I blame it all on the Chick-fil-A commercials showing parachuting cows.
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Where's my global warming?
The Hawk is howling outside right now. Gusts are coming out of the northwest at 20-30 miles an hour. The temperature is down to 33 degrees and promising to go down another 10 degrees. We may even get our first snow flakes of the year at the Aerie tonight.
Up at the Bolt Hole there may be some measurable accumulations--maybe as much as 3 inches--and the Bolt Hole is about 100 miles east of Lake Ontario. Closer to the shore there may be even more as the lake effect machine goes into gear.
Up at the Bolt Hole there may be some measurable accumulations--maybe as much as 3 inches--and the Bolt Hole is about 100 miles east of Lake Ontario. Closer to the shore there may be even more as the lake effect machine goes into gear.
Election day in a small town
Man, you really can't get away with anything in a small town.
The wife and I went to vote today for the first time in our new district/town. We know virtually no one in town by name with the exception of the man who owns the gas station in the next town over and who works on our vehicles (he also happens to live about a mile down the road) and a member of the sales staff at the hardware store (also in the next town over) who lives maybe a mile and a half down the road. Oh, and the postmaster and the assistant postmaster who know almost everything about us while we know precious little about them.
Anyway, you would think that walking into the polling place for the first time we would have to show all sorts of proof (or at least our drivers' licenses)before we could vote. Wrong. No sooner did we walk in than the woman manning the registration books says hi and turns right to the page where our name appears without our even saying a word. She had overheard a conversation between my wife and the postmaster and caught our last name from that little snippet.
I guess I'm going to have to keep my nose clean and mind my Ps and Qs.
The wife and I went to vote today for the first time in our new district/town. We know virtually no one in town by name with the exception of the man who owns the gas station in the next town over and who works on our vehicles (he also happens to live about a mile down the road) and a member of the sales staff at the hardware store (also in the next town over) who lives maybe a mile and a half down the road. Oh, and the postmaster and the assistant postmaster who know almost everything about us while we know precious little about them.
Anyway, you would think that walking into the polling place for the first time we would have to show all sorts of proof (or at least our drivers' licenses)before we could vote. Wrong. No sooner did we walk in than the woman manning the registration books says hi and turns right to the page where our name appears without our even saying a word. She had overheard a conversation between my wife and the postmaster and caught our last name from that little snippet.
I guess I'm going to have to keep my nose clean and mind my Ps and Qs.
Rippy the Gator
I came across this while checking the Arrogant Worms on YouTube and immediately thought of Jimbo of Parkway Rest Stop (he's listed over there on the right).
The rest of you can enjoy it too.
The rest of you can enjoy it too.
Now where did I put that?
Big Chunk Of The Universe Is Missing -- Again
You know, I had it here just a few days ago. Then I went and put it in a “safe” place. Like everything else I’ve put in a “safe” place over the years I’ll never find it again until I go out a purchase a replacement.
You know, I had it here just a few days ago. Then I went and put it in a “safe” place. Like everything else I’ve put in a “safe” place over the years I’ll never find it again until I go out a purchase a replacement.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Post Week 10 Polls
As might be expected with last week’s number 2 team, Boston College, getting knocked off by Florida State, there have been a few shifts in the polls this week. Not many in comparison to other weeks, perhaps, but some.
I’ll be giving all three major polls this week: The AP Writers’ Poll, the Coaches’ Poll and the BCS Standings. They will appear in this order: AP/Coaches/BCS. NR will mean that the team is not among the Top 25 in that poll. Also reported are this weeks opponents.
#1/1/1 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0) remains at the top of everyone’s list. This week they play at home against Illinois (7-3, 4-2).
#2/2/2 LSU (8-1, 5-1) The Tigers have managed to crawl back into the #2 hot seat with just a few weeks remaining in the season. It will be interesting to see if they can stay there considering the sloppy play and numerous penalties of this most recent week. This week they play at home but out of conference against Louisiana Tech (4-5, 3-3) of the Western Athletic Conference.
#3/3/3 Oregon (8-1, 5-1) The Ducks knocked Arizona State from the ranks of the unbeaten and took control of the Pac 10 doing so. They get a break this week and don’t play until November 15.
#4/4/5 Oklahoma (8-1, 4-1) The Sooners trashed Texas A&M and they did it through the air. This week they play a hapless Baylor team (3-7, 0-6) at home. They should be able to hold on to their Big 12 South lead which makes the championship game the first week in December terribly interesting. The opponent? Why it might be…
#5/5/4 Kansas (9-0, 5-0) The Jayhawks scored 21 in the first, 27 in the second and 21 in the third quarters against Nebraska on their way to a 76-39 victory. This week they are on the road to Oklahoma State (5-4, 3-2).
#6/6/7 West Virginia (7-1, 2-1) The Mountaineers had a bye this week which means they should be well rested when Louisville (5-4, 2-2) comes to Morgantown on Thursday.
#7/3/6 Missouri (8-1, 4-1) The Tigers may be the only thing standing between the Kansas Jayhawks vs Oklahoma for the Big 12 title. (Missouri host Kansas on November 24.) This week, however, they host Texas A&M (6-4, 3-3) fresh off that Oklahoma thrashing.
#8/8/8 Boston College (8-1, 4-1) The Eagles saw their perfect season come to an end this weekend but they still lead the Atlantic Division of the ACC. This week they travel to Maryland to take on the Terps 4-5, 1-4) which should help them feel better.
#9/9/9 Arizona State (8-1, 5-1) The Sun Devils’ perfect season also ended this week but so may have their hopes for a PAC 10 title. They’ll have to win out and hope that Oregon stumbles along the way. This week they are on the road to face UCLA (5-4, 4-2).
#10/10/10 Georgia (7-2, 4-2) The Bulldogs host Auburn (7-3, 4-2) this week.
#11/11/11 Virginia Tech (7-2, 4-1) The Hokies have been up, down and all around. This week they host non-conference Florida State (7-2, 4-1).
#12/15/17 Southern California (7-2, 4-1) The Trojans have had obituaries written about them this year and yet they are a pretty fine football team that’s just not a dominant one. This week they play at Cal (6-3, 3-3).
#13/13/12 Michigan (8-2, 6-0) Everyone’s top pick at the start of the season fell flat on its face opening weekend…and the one that followed, but is now chugging along on all cylinders. This week they play at Wisconsin (7-3, 3-3) with a match-up with Ohio State to follow.
#14/12/16 Hawaii (8-0, 5-0) The Warriors had a bye this week so they (and more importantly for them Colt Brennan’s arm) should be well rested when Fresno State (6-3, 5-1) comes to the island to play.
#15/14/14 Texas (8-2, 4-2) The Longhorns have won each of their last two games by a mere 3 points each. They are probably hoping for a little more breathing room when they host Texas Tech (7-3, 3-3) this week but they aren’t likely to get it.
#16/16/13 Connecticut (8-1, 4-0) The Huskies were one of three teams considered on the cusp of good things in the BIG EAST when the season began. (Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were the other two. No one thought much of Syracuse—and they were right.) Now UConn has proven to be the new beast in the east. This week they travel to Cincinnati to test the Bearcats (7-2, 2-2) and to try and hold onto their BIG EAST #1 slot.
#17/18/15 Florida (6-3, 4-3) I confess. I don’t like the Gators. (I don’t like the Seminoles either but that’s a different conference.) I also don’t understand how a three-loss team can be ranked so high. But they are. This week they are also on the road to South Carolina (6-4, 3-4).
#18/17/18 Auburn (7-3, 4-2) Another three loss team but I feel somewhat different about the Tigers for some reason. This week they play at Georgia (7-2, 4-2).
#19/19/20 Boise State (8-1, 5-0) The Broncos play on that God awful blue field and they win—a lot. This year they have one loss (they had none last year) and their next two opponents have just one win between them. This week the Broncos will be at Utah State (0-9, 0-5).
#20/20/21 Clemson (7-2, 4-2) The Tigers are having a pretty good year. This week they host Wake Forest (6-3, 4-2).
#21/23/22 Alabama (6-3, 4-3) After that heartbreaking loss to LSU last week, the Tide hopes to get back to business at Mississippi State (5-4, 2-3).
#22/22/24 Tennessee (6-3, 3-2) Up and down all season, the Volunteers better be on ther game when they host Arkansas (6-3, 2-3) this week.
#23/21/19 Virginia (8-2, 5-1) The Cavaliers need to win at Miami (Fla.) (5-4, 2-3) to stay ahead of Virginia Tech in their race for the lead in the Coastal Division of the ACC. And on November 24 they may have to beat V Tech to hold on to it.
#24/NR/27 California (6-3, 3-3) The Golden Bears ended their three game losing streak. Now they want to salvage a season as they host Southern California (7-2, 4-2).
#25/22/25 Kentucky (6-3, 2-3) One week the Wildcats are giant killers. The next they are shlubs. Which will show up at Vanderbilt (5-4, 2-4) to play the Commodores?
NR/25/23 Penn State (7-3, 4-3) The Nittany Lions will play Bill Cosby’s alma mater Saturday. Yeah, PSU goes out of conference and on the road to face the Temple Owls (3-6, 3-3) of the Mid American Conference.
I’ll be giving all three major polls this week: The AP Writers’ Poll, the Coaches’ Poll and the BCS Standings. They will appear in this order: AP/Coaches/BCS. NR will mean that the team is not among the Top 25 in that poll. Also reported are this weeks opponents.
#1/1/1 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0) remains at the top of everyone’s list. This week they play at home against Illinois (7-3, 4-2).
#2/2/2 LSU (8-1, 5-1) The Tigers have managed to crawl back into the #2 hot seat with just a few weeks remaining in the season. It will be interesting to see if they can stay there considering the sloppy play and numerous penalties of this most recent week. This week they play at home but out of conference against Louisiana Tech (4-5, 3-3) of the Western Athletic Conference.
#3/3/3 Oregon (8-1, 5-1) The Ducks knocked Arizona State from the ranks of the unbeaten and took control of the Pac 10 doing so. They get a break this week and don’t play until November 15.
#4/4/5 Oklahoma (8-1, 4-1) The Sooners trashed Texas A&M and they did it through the air. This week they play a hapless Baylor team (3-7, 0-6) at home. They should be able to hold on to their Big 12 South lead which makes the championship game the first week in December terribly interesting. The opponent? Why it might be…
#5/5/4 Kansas (9-0, 5-0) The Jayhawks scored 21 in the first, 27 in the second and 21 in the third quarters against Nebraska on their way to a 76-39 victory. This week they are on the road to Oklahoma State (5-4, 3-2).
#6/6/7 West Virginia (7-1, 2-1) The Mountaineers had a bye this week which means they should be well rested when Louisville (5-4, 2-2) comes to Morgantown on Thursday.
#7/3/6 Missouri (8-1, 4-1) The Tigers may be the only thing standing between the Kansas Jayhawks vs Oklahoma for the Big 12 title. (Missouri host Kansas on November 24.) This week, however, they host Texas A&M (6-4, 3-3) fresh off that Oklahoma thrashing.
#8/8/8 Boston College (8-1, 4-1) The Eagles saw their perfect season come to an end this weekend but they still lead the Atlantic Division of the ACC. This week they travel to Maryland to take on the Terps 4-5, 1-4) which should help them feel better.
#9/9/9 Arizona State (8-1, 5-1) The Sun Devils’ perfect season also ended this week but so may have their hopes for a PAC 10 title. They’ll have to win out and hope that Oregon stumbles along the way. This week they are on the road to face UCLA (5-4, 4-2).
#10/10/10 Georgia (7-2, 4-2) The Bulldogs host Auburn (7-3, 4-2) this week.
#11/11/11 Virginia Tech (7-2, 4-1) The Hokies have been up, down and all around. This week they host non-conference Florida State (7-2, 4-1).
#12/15/17 Southern California (7-2, 4-1) The Trojans have had obituaries written about them this year and yet they are a pretty fine football team that’s just not a dominant one. This week they play at Cal (6-3, 3-3).
#13/13/12 Michigan (8-2, 6-0) Everyone’s top pick at the start of the season fell flat on its face opening weekend…and the one that followed, but is now chugging along on all cylinders. This week they play at Wisconsin (7-3, 3-3) with a match-up with Ohio State to follow.
#14/12/16 Hawaii (8-0, 5-0) The Warriors had a bye this week so they (and more importantly for them Colt Brennan’s arm) should be well rested when Fresno State (6-3, 5-1) comes to the island to play.
#15/14/14 Texas (8-2, 4-2) The Longhorns have won each of their last two games by a mere 3 points each. They are probably hoping for a little more breathing room when they host Texas Tech (7-3, 3-3) this week but they aren’t likely to get it.
#16/16/13 Connecticut (8-1, 4-0) The Huskies were one of three teams considered on the cusp of good things in the BIG EAST when the season began. (Pittsburgh and Cincinnati were the other two. No one thought much of Syracuse—and they were right.) Now UConn has proven to be the new beast in the east. This week they travel to Cincinnati to test the Bearcats (7-2, 2-2) and to try and hold onto their BIG EAST #1 slot.
#17/18/15 Florida (6-3, 4-3) I confess. I don’t like the Gators. (I don’t like the Seminoles either but that’s a different conference.) I also don’t understand how a three-loss team can be ranked so high. But they are. This week they are also on the road to South Carolina (6-4, 3-4).
#18/17/18 Auburn (7-3, 4-2) Another three loss team but I feel somewhat different about the Tigers for some reason. This week they play at Georgia (7-2, 4-2).
#19/19/20 Boise State (8-1, 5-0) The Broncos play on that God awful blue field and they win—a lot. This year they have one loss (they had none last year) and their next two opponents have just one win between them. This week the Broncos will be at Utah State (0-9, 0-5).
#20/20/21 Clemson (7-2, 4-2) The Tigers are having a pretty good year. This week they host Wake Forest (6-3, 4-2).
#21/23/22 Alabama (6-3, 4-3) After that heartbreaking loss to LSU last week, the Tide hopes to get back to business at Mississippi State (5-4, 2-3).
#22/22/24 Tennessee (6-3, 3-2) Up and down all season, the Volunteers better be on ther game when they host Arkansas (6-3, 2-3) this week.
#23/21/19 Virginia (8-2, 5-1) The Cavaliers need to win at Miami (Fla.) (5-4, 2-3) to stay ahead of Virginia Tech in their race for the lead in the Coastal Division of the ACC. And on November 24 they may have to beat V Tech to hold on to it.
#24/NR/27 California (6-3, 3-3) The Golden Bears ended their three game losing streak. Now they want to salvage a season as they host Southern California (7-2, 4-2).
#25/22/25 Kentucky (6-3, 2-3) One week the Wildcats are giant killers. The next they are shlubs. Which will show up at Vanderbilt (5-4, 2-4) to play the Commodores?
NR/25/23 Penn State (7-3, 4-3) The Nittany Lions will play Bill Cosby’s alma mater Saturday. Yeah, PSU goes out of conference and on the road to face the Temple Owls (3-6, 3-3) of the Mid American Conference.
Back to PA for a couple of days
Washed the dishes, vacuumed the cabin, drained the pipes and packed my gear in the truck this morning before driving back to the Aerie from the Bolt Hole. Along the way I took all my recyclable bottles and cans to WallyWorld where they have a redemption center. It's a good thing I did 'cause I needed the extra three bucks.
Gasoline prices have skyrocketed in the last week. Between Thursday and today the price jumped 20 cents a gallon on regular. I filled the truck up at the Oneida Service Plaza on the NY Thruway going up to the Bolt Hole on Thursday and then at the local Stewart's on the way home today. Both prices were affected by the NY State taxes so the difference between Thursday and today was a fair comparison.
All I can say is thank goodness the Toyota is giving me 18 miles to a gallon compared to the 14-15 I was getting with the Silverado on the same trip.
Tomorrow's election day and, while there's precious little to vote upon in this off-off-year, Terry and I will still go down to the polls to cast our votes. With no local television stations we have been spared some of the political commercials our friends north of the border in NY state have had to watch. (Well, actually we have had to watch them too, but at least we don't have to vote for anyone of those who have been politicing in those thirty-second sound bites.)
Later this week we'll go over to Wellsboro and check out the photography club. They have a speaker coming in to talk about the wolves of Yellowstone. Maybe he'll have some pretty pictures to illustrate his presentation.
Then, on Friday, the contractor is supposed to come put up some seamless gutters on the Aerie.
Gasoline prices have skyrocketed in the last week. Between Thursday and today the price jumped 20 cents a gallon on regular. I filled the truck up at the Oneida Service Plaza on the NY Thruway going up to the Bolt Hole on Thursday and then at the local Stewart's on the way home today. Both prices were affected by the NY State taxes so the difference between Thursday and today was a fair comparison.
All I can say is thank goodness the Toyota is giving me 18 miles to a gallon compared to the 14-15 I was getting with the Silverado on the same trip.
Tomorrow's election day and, while there's precious little to vote upon in this off-off-year, Terry and I will still go down to the polls to cast our votes. With no local television stations we have been spared some of the political commercials our friends north of the border in NY state have had to watch. (Well, actually we have had to watch them too, but at least we don't have to vote for anyone of those who have been politicing in those thirty-second sound bites.)
Later this week we'll go over to Wellsboro and check out the photography club. They have a speaker coming in to talk about the wolves of Yellowstone. Maybe he'll have some pretty pictures to illustrate his presentation.
Then, on Friday, the contractor is supposed to come put up some seamless gutters on the Aerie.
The Undefeated (post week 10)
Here we are a couple of weeks from the end of the regular season (some conferences have a championship game) and there are three teams that remain undefeated. (Rankings given are for the AP Writers’, Coaches and BCS Polls.)
#1 Ohio State has a perfect 10-0 record and is 6-0 in the Big Ten. They have Illinois (at home) and Michigan (on the road) remaining on their schedule.
#5/5/4 Kansas is 9-0 with a 5-0 Big 12 record. They have Oklahoma State (on the road), Iowa State and Missouri (both at home) remaining before the Big 12 Championship game which will probably be against Oklahoma.
#14/12/16 Hawaii has an 8-0 record, 5-0 in the WAC. They play Fresno State (home), Nevada (away), Boise State (home) and non-conference Washington (home). The Boise State (currently 8-1, 5-0) game is the one to watch as it will likely determine the WAC championship.
Even if Kansas and Hawaii run the table, unless there are some major flops by LSU and Oregon, one or both could be left out of the National Title game despite having undefeated seasons. Kansas has the best shot of making it to THE game should it win out over both Missouri and Oklahoma. Hawaii? Sorry, the WAC is just too weak a conference right now to me the staging ground for a national title. Ask Boise State about that.
Should neither Kansas nor Hawaii make the BCS National Title game, and should all three win out including their respective bowl games, it is possible that come the end of January there will still be three undefeated teams.
#1 Ohio State has a perfect 10-0 record and is 6-0 in the Big Ten. They have Illinois (at home) and Michigan (on the road) remaining on their schedule.
#5/5/4 Kansas is 9-0 with a 5-0 Big 12 record. They have Oklahoma State (on the road), Iowa State and Missouri (both at home) remaining before the Big 12 Championship game which will probably be against Oklahoma.
#14/12/16 Hawaii has an 8-0 record, 5-0 in the WAC. They play Fresno State (home), Nevada (away), Boise State (home) and non-conference Washington (home). The Boise State (currently 8-1, 5-0) game is the one to watch as it will likely determine the WAC championship.
Even if Kansas and Hawaii run the table, unless there are some major flops by LSU and Oregon, one or both could be left out of the National Title game despite having undefeated seasons. Kansas has the best shot of making it to THE game should it win out over both Missouri and Oklahoma. Hawaii? Sorry, the WAC is just too weak a conference right now to me the staging ground for a national title. Ask Boise State about that.
Should neither Kansas nor Hawaii make the BCS National Title game, and should all three win out including their respective bowl games, it is possible that come the end of January there will still be three undefeated teams.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Still no deer.
Mark and I went and sat in the woods much of the day. Going out in the morning wasn't too bad despite the low temperature (between 25 and 30 degrees) and heavy frost. The frost actually helped soften the leaves on the ground and made them somewhat quiet to walk upon. As the sun got rid of the frost, however, the leaves became crunchy and it was like walking on cornflakes. Luckily for me, I was sitting by the time that occurred and I was able to hear the occasional red squirrel hustling across the leaves and the stray hunter walk down the trail several hundred yards away from me.
This afternoon we had the worst possible conditions for still hunting with all those crunchy leaves underfoot so I opted to sit again while Mark did some wandering.
Neither Mark nor I saw a deer all day. We did, however see at least ten other hunters either on the property we were hunting or on land adjacent to it. That contributed to my choosing to sit in one spot. I hoped these other hunters would stir the deer up and send them my way. It didn't happen. In fact, we heard only two shots anywhere near us and they were probably at the same deer as they occurred less than a minute apart around nine in the morning. Mark wandered over to the area he thought the shots came from and could hear voices raise in successful joy but never spotted the hunters nor signs of any kill.
Mark has left to go back to work tomorrow and I'll be closing up the Bolt Hole in the morning as a cold front is threatening to bring low temps and even some measurable amounts of snow later in the week. I may return to hunt over the weekends (the north zone season goes until December 2nd) but I hesitate to spend a great deal more time here on my own. First is the safety issue and second is that I would much rather spend some time with the spousal unit.
Then there is the Pennsylvania season right around the corner.
This afternoon we had the worst possible conditions for still hunting with all those crunchy leaves underfoot so I opted to sit again while Mark did some wandering.
Neither Mark nor I saw a deer all day. We did, however see at least ten other hunters either on the property we were hunting or on land adjacent to it. That contributed to my choosing to sit in one spot. I hoped these other hunters would stir the deer up and send them my way. It didn't happen. In fact, we heard only two shots anywhere near us and they were probably at the same deer as they occurred less than a minute apart around nine in the morning. Mark wandered over to the area he thought the shots came from and could hear voices raise in successful joy but never spotted the hunters nor signs of any kill.
Mark has left to go back to work tomorrow and I'll be closing up the Bolt Hole in the morning as a cold front is threatening to bring low temps and even some measurable amounts of snow later in the week. I may return to hunt over the weekends (the north zone season goes until December 2nd) but I hesitate to spend a great deal more time here on my own. First is the safety issue and second is that I would much rather spend some time with the spousal unit.
Then there is the Pennsylvania season right around the corner.
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